Forecasters are expecting Tropical Storm Tammy to strengthen into a hurricane on Friday. Image courtesy of NOAA
Oct. 18 (UPI) — As Hurricane Tammy moves toward the Leeward Islands throughout the day Friday, forecasters are warning of rainfall and flooding over much of the Lesser Antilles later in the evening.
In their 5 p.m. Friday advisory, the National Hurricane Center put the storm at about 125 miles east-southeast of Martinique, moving west-northwest at 7 mph. The system has sustained winds of 75 mph.
Hurricane warnings remained in effect for Guadeloupe, Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, while watches still were posted for Dominica, Anguilla, St. Maarten, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy.
Forecasters said a turn toward the northwest is expected for Friday evening, followed by a more northward track for the storm.
“On the forecast track, the center of Tammy will move near or over portions of the Leeward Islands tonight and on Saturday, and then move north of the northern Leeward Islands on Sunday,” forecasters said in the advisory.
Gradual strengthening should occur during the next few days, the hurricane center said, adding that hurricane-force winds can be felt up to 25 miles from Tammy’s center.
The storm is expected to deliver 4 to 8 inches of rain across parts of the Leeward Islands and as much as 2 to 4 inches in the northern Windward Islands and into eastern Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Hurricane forecasters also warned about swells the storm will produce, saying they could be life-threatening.