This is a News Item on Sub-Tropical Storm Leslie issued by The Bahamas Department of Meteorology Forecast Office, at 2PM, MONDAY, 24TH SEPTEMBER, 2018.

…LESLIE IS DRIFTING EASTWARD OVER THE CENTRAL ATLANTIC WITH NO CHANGE IN STRENGTH…

AT 11AM DST, THE CENTER OF SUBTROPICAL STORM LESLIE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 32.5°NORTH AND LONGITUDE 48.0° WEST OR ABOUT 1240 MILES WEST OF THE AZORES.

THE STORM IS MOVING TOWARD THE EAST NEAR 5 MILES PER HOUR AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. A TURN TOWARD THE EAST-NORTHEAST WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS FORECAST ON WEDNESDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST THROUGH TONIGHT. LESLIE IS FORECAST TO STRENGTHEN BY MID WEEK WHILE IT INTERACTS AND EVENTUALLY MERGES WITH A FRONTAL SYSTEM.

THE NEXT NEWS ITEM WILL BE ISSUED AT 6PM.

PREPARED BY FORECASTER: GREGORY D THOMPSON (SMO)