Tropical Storm Tammy forms in Atlantic

A gradual strengthening of Tropical Storm Tammy is expected in the coming days. According to a National Hurricane Center report issued early Thursday, Puerto Rico was barely within Tammy’s cone of direct influence.

By The Star Staff

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami confirmed the formation of Tropical Storm Tammy east of the Windward Islands on Wednesday.

Tropical storm warnings have been issued for Barbados, Dominica, Martinique and Guadeloupe.

According to the NHC, at 8 a.m. Thursday, Tropical Storm Tammy was centered near 13.5N 54.8W or 420 nautical miles ESE of Guadeloupe, moving W at 15 kt.

Tammy was expected to continue moving westward at a slower rate through Thursday. A turn to the west-northwest was forecast for Thursday night, followed by another turn to the northwest on Friday night or Saturday. Based on the forecast track, Tammy’s center will approach or pass through the Leeward Islands between Friday and Saturday.

Puerto Rico is barely within Tammy’s cone of direct influence.

A gradual strengthening is expected in the coming days. Tropical storm-force winds extend up to 220 kilometers northeast of the storm’s center.

By the weekend, Tammy could produce rainfall accumulations of between 3 and 6 inches, reaching highs of 10 inches, in northern parts of the Windward Islands and Leeward Islands. Accumulations of 1 to 2 inches, with highs of 4 inches, are expected for the British and U.S. Virgin Islands and eastern Puerto Rico. These rains could cause flash flooding and landslides in high-elevation areas.

The NHC is warning of dangerous surf generated by Tammy that would affect parts of the Lesser Antilles starting Thursday, posing risks of deadly sea currents. The public is urged to follow the updates and recommendations issued by their respective local weather offices.