The Department of Meterology has issued a tropical storm alert for the Turks and Caicos, Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island and Ragged Island. Residents in the Turks and Caicos Islands and the islands of Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island and Ragged Island should begin to secure their properties for tropical storm conditions and possible hurricane conditions.

A tropical storm alert means that tropical storm conditions can possibly be experienced in the Turks and Caicos Islands and the islands of Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island and Ragged Island within 48 to 60 hours. Tropical Storm Erika is moving toward the west near 17 miles per hour and a west to west-northwestward motion is expected over the next 48 hours.

On this track, the center of Erika will move near the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeast Bahamas on Friday afternoon. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 miles per hour with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecasted during the next 48 hours. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles primarily to the east of the center.

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