...POORLY ORGANIZED GRACE NOW NEAR GUADELOUPE...
...SQUALLY WEATHER MOVING ACROSS THE LESSER ANTILLES...
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL072021
SUMMARY OF 800 PM AST...0000 UTC...INFORMATION
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LOCATION...16.6N 61.5W
ABOUT 15 MI...25 KM N OF GUADELOUPE
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 275 DEGREES AT 23 MPH...37 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1010 MB...29.83 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
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CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
The government of the Dominican Republic has issued a Tropical Storm Warning from Cabo Caucedo northward to Samana.
The government of the Dominican Republic has issued a Tropical Storm Watch from the south coast of the Dominican Republic from Haiti border eastward to Cabo Caucedo and for the north coast of the Dominican Republic from Samana westward to the Haiti border.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Montserrat
* Saba and Sint Eustatius
* Sint Maarten
* St. Martin and St. Barthelemy
* British Virgin Islands
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra
* Dominican Republic from Cabo Caucedo to Samana
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* South coast of the Dominican Republic from the Haitian border to Cabo Caucedo
* North coast of the Dominican Republic from the Haitian border to Samana
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
Interests elsewhere in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the southeastern Bahamas, and Cuba should monitor the progress of Grace. Additional watches and warnings could be required for this area tonight or on Sunday.
For storm information specific to your area in the United States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside of the United States, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
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At 800 PM AST (0000 UTC), the poorly-defined center of Tropical Storm Grace was relocated to near latitude 16.6 North, longitude 61.5 West. Grace is moving quickly toward the west near 23 mph (37 km/h). A motion toward the west-northwest with a gradual decrease in forward speed is expected during the next several days. On the forecast track, the center of Grace is expected to pass through the Leeward Islands tonight, near the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Sunday, near or over the Dominican Republic Sunday night and Monday, and then near or over Haiti Monday night.
Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next day or two. Grace is likely to weaken while it moves near and across the Greater Antilles Monday and Tuesday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) to the north of the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1010 mb (29.83 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area in the Leeward Islands tonight, and in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Sunday, and in the Dominican Republic Sunday night. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area in the Dominican Republic Sunday night and Monday.
RAINFALL: Grace is expected to produce the following rainfall amounts Saturday into Tuesday:
Over the northern Leeward Islands and Virgin Islands...3 to 6 inches. This rainfall may produce scattered areas of flash and urban flooding.
Over Puerto Rico...3 to 6 inches with isolated maximum totals of 8 inches. Heavy rainfall could lead to flash, urban and small stream flooding and possible mudslides.
Over Haiti and the Dominican Republic...4 to 7 inches with isolated maximum totals of 10 inches. Heavy rainfall could lead to flash and urban flooding and possible mudslides from Monday into Tuesday.
By mid to late next week heavy rainfall from this system could impact portions of Cuba, the Bahamas and Florida.
Forecaster Papin/Brown
