Forecasters say Tropical Storm Kirk is moving quickly towards the eastern Caribbean.
The system was downgraded to a tropical depression earlier this week. But the National Hurricane Center says it has since reorganized.
At 5 a.m. EDT, the center of Kirk was located about 85 miles (135 kilometers) ENE of Barbados. It had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph) and was moving WNW at 16 mph (26 kph).
A tropical storm warning is in effect for the islands of Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, Martinique and Guadeloupe. Forecasters say some spots could get as much as 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain.
Kirk's projected track shows it weakening into a tropical depression again along a path south of Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Cuba and Jamaica.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Barbados
* St. Lucia
* Dominica
* Martinique
* GuadeloupeA Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* St. Vincent and the GrenadinesInterests elsewhere in the central and northern Lesser Antilles
should monitor the progress of Kirk.For storm information specific to your area, please monitor
products issued by your national meteorological service.DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
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At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Kirk was
located near latitude 13.5 North, longitude 58.3 West. Kirk is
moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph (26 km/h), and this
general motion with a slight decrease in forward speed is expected
over the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of Kirk
will move across the Lesser Antilles within the tropical storm
warning area by this evening.Maximum sustained winds remain near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher
gusts. Gradual weakening is anticipated during the next couple of
days, but Kirk is forecast to move across the Lesser Antilles and
into the eastern Caribbean Sea as a tropical storm. Another Air
Force reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to investigate Kirk
later this morning.Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km),
mostly north and east of the center.The estimated minimum central pressure is 1002 mb (29.59 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected to first reach the
warning area this afternoon, making outside preparations difficult
or dangerous. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the
watch area by this afternoon.RAINFALL: Kirk is expected to produce total rainfall of 4 to 6
inches across the northern Windward and southern Leeward Islands
with isolated maximum totals up to 10 inches across Martinique and
Dominica. These rains may produce life-threatening flash floods and
mudslides. Across eastern Puerto Rico, Kirk is expected to bring 2
to 4 inches with isolated maximum totals of 6 inches by Friday and
Saturday.NEXT ADVISORY
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Next intermediate advisory at 800 AM AST.
Next complete advisory at 1100 AM AST.