Tropical Storm Erika issued by The Bahamas Meterology at noon EDT, Thursday, August 27, 2015.

…ERIKA REMAINS POORLY ORGANIZED…

A Tropical Storm watch remains in effect for TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES THE ISLANDS OF INAGUA, MAYAGUANA, ACKLINS, CROOKED ISLAND AND RAGGED ISLAND. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS CAN POSSIBLY BE EXPERIENCED IN THOSE ISLANDS WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

A Tropical Stomr alert also remains in effect for The Islands of The Central Bahamas which includedes THE ISLANDS OF LONG ISLAND, CAT ISLAND, THE EXUMAS, SAN SALVADOR AND RUM CAY.

A TROPICAL STORM ALERT MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS CAN POSSIBLY BE EXPERIENCED IN THOSE ISLANDS WITHIN THE NEXT 60 HOURS.

At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Erika was located near latitude 16.4 North, longitude 63.3 West. Erika is moving toward the west near 16 mph (26 km/h). A turn toward the west-northwest is forecast later today, and this general motion should continue for the next 48 hours. On the forecast track, the center of Erika will move near the Virgin Islands later today, move near or north of Puerto Rico tonight, and pass north of the north coast of the Dominican Republic on Friday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 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) from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1006 mb (29.71 inches).

Erika is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches with maximum amounts of 12 inches possible across portions of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the southeast Bahamas through Saturday.

RESIDENTS IN THE AFOREMENTIONED ISLANDS SHOULD BEGIN TO SECURE THEIR PROPERTIES. SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF ERIKA.

THE NEXT ALERT WILL BE ISSUED AT 3PM EDT.
ISSUED BY: IAN V. MCKENZIE (DUTY FORECASTER)