Tropical Storm Dolly forms in Atlantic, could bring needed rain to PR

By THE STAR STAFF

Tropical Storm Dolly formed on Thursday over the central tropical Atlantic and could bring heavy rains to Puerto Rico between Sunday and Monday, the National Hurricane Center reported.

At 11 a.m. Thursday, the center of Dolly was located near latitude 13.6 degrees north and longitude 38.7 degrees west, some 1,555 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. It had maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour and was moving westward at 24 miles per hour.

The National Hurricane Center forecast that Dolly would continue its rapid westward movement through Friday and approach the Lesser Antilles during the weekend.

Although little change in intensity was expected through early Saturday, the forecast indicated that Dolly will degenerate into a tropical wave before reaching the Lesser Antilles.

However, moisture associated with the system could begin producing heavy rains in the Lesser Antilles between Saturday night and Sunday, and subsequently reach the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola between Sunday and Monday.

The National Hurricane Center warned that the rains could cause flash flooding, particularly in mountainous areas.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 60 miles from the center, and the minimum central pressure was estimated at 1,007 millibars.

There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect at press time, although residents of the Lesser Antilles were urged to keep a close watch on Dolly’s progress.