Dominica, St. Lucia bracing for storm force winds

Residents of Dominica, St. Lucia, Martinique and Guadeloupe were this morning advised to remain on the alert for tropical storm-force winds and heavy rains associated with the passage of a weather system through the region.

 The 8:00 a.m. weather report from the US National Hurricane Centre did not declare the system a tropical storm as anticipated, but the Centre said a reconnaissance aircraft measured winds of 40 to 45 miles per hour and found that the circulation had become better defined.

 “Regardless of whether or not the system becomes a tropical storm before it moves through the Lesser Antilles, tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rains will spread across Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, and St. Lucia today,” the Centre said.

 The system is moving westward to west-northwestward at around 15 mph, and is expected to pass over the Lesser Antilles later today, and move over the southeastern Caribbean Sea tonight and Thursday.

Check CDEMA’s website for National Actions associated with the passage of this weather system.