NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL0520151100 AM AST WED AUG 26 2015
...ERIKA CONTINUES WESTWARD TOWARD THE LEEWARD ISLANDS...
SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...INFORMATION-----------------------------------------------LOCATION...16.1N 57.6WABOUT 285 MI...460 KM ESE OF ANTIGUAMAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH...75 KM/HPRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 280 DEGREES AT 17 MPH...28 KM/HMINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1005 MB...29.68 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS--------------------CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
The government of France has changed the Tropical Storm Watch to aTropical Storm Warning for St. Martin and St. Barthelemy.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...* Anguilla* Saba and St. Eustatius* St. Maarten* St. Martin* St. Barthelemy* Montserrat* Antigua and Barbuda* St. Kitts and Nevis* Puerto Rico* Vieques* Culebra* U.S. Virgin Islands* British Virgin Islands
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...* Guadeloupe
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions areexpected somewhere within the warning area, generally within 36hours.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions arepossible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
Interests in the Dominican Republic should monitor the progress ofErika. A Tropical Storm Watch may be required for a portion of theDominican Republic later today.
For storm information specific to your area in the United States,including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitorproducts issued by your local National Weather Service forecastoffice. For storm information specific to your area outside theUnited States, please monitor products issued by your nationalmeteorological service.
DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK------------------------------At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Erika waslocated near latitude 16.1 North, longitude 57.6 West. Erika ismoving toward the west near 17 mph (28 km/h), and a west towest-northwestward motion is expected over the next 48 hours.On the forecast track, the center of Erika will move near or overportions of the Leeward Islands tonight, move near the VirginIslands and Puerto Rico on Thursday, and be near or just north ofnorth coast of the Dominican Republic on Friday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts.Little change in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km)primarily to the east of the center.
The latest minimum central pressure reported from an Air ForceReserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft was 1005 mb (29.68 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND----------------------WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected to first reach thewarning area in the Leeward Islands tonight, and reach the VirginIslands and Puerto Rico on Thursday. Tropical storm conditions arepossible in the watch area tonight and early Thursday. Tropicalstorm conditions could reach portions of the Dominican Republic onFriday.
RAINFALL: Erika is expected to produce total rain accumulations of3 to 5 inches with maximum amounts of 8 inches across portions ofthe Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico throughFriday morning.
