Tropical Storm Erika forms in Atlantic
(CNN) — Tropical Storm Erika formed in the Atlantic on Tuesday, east of the northern Leeward Islands, the National Hurricane Center said.
As of 5 p.m. ET Tuesday, tropical storm watches were issued for the Caribbean islands of St. Maarten, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy by the governments of France, the Netherlands Antilles and Antigua and Barbuda, according to the hurricane center. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions, including winds of at least 39 mph, are possible within 36 hours.
Interests in the northern Leeward Islands, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico should monitor Erika’s progress, forecasters advised.
Erika’s center was located about 390 miles (625 km) east of the northern Leeward Islands, the hurricane center said. Its maximum sustained winds were near 50 mph (80 kph), with higher gusts. “Some slow strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days,” forecasters said.
Tropical-storm force winds extended outward up to 105 miles (170 km) from Erika’s center.
The storm was moving west-northwest at near 9 mph (15 kph), and was expected to continue doing so for the next couple of days, the hurricane center said. Tracking maps put the storm east of the Bahamas by Sunday. On the forecast track, Erika should remain northeast of the Leeward Islands, forecasters said.
