Tropical Storm Laura Forms Near Leeward Islands, Warnings Issued for Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico

By  //  August 21, 2020

not expected to impact Brevard County

ABOVE VIDEO: The National Weather Service in Melbourne forecast on Saturday calls for a slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny skies, with a high near 93.

Tropical Storm Laura has formed 170 miles east of the Leeward Islands on Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center. (NHC Image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Tropical Storm Laura has formed 170 miles east of the Leeward Islands on Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Laura is moving to the west at 18 mph and carrying 45 mph max sustained winds.

As of Friday afternoon, Tropical Storm Laura is expected to impact South Florida on Monday but a slight change in the projected storm path of Laura shows it moving directly over Florida Keys as a strong Tropical Storm.

After passing over the Keys, Laura will move into the gulf as the West Coast of Florida could see hurricane-force winds as the system makes projected landfall near the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday.

As of Friday afternoon, Tropical Storm Laura is expected to impact South Florida on Monday but a slight change in the projected storm path of Laura shows it moving directly over Florida Keys as a strong Tropical Storm. (NHC Image)

The government of the Dominican Republic has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the northern coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the border with Haiti.

Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the following islands:
* Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* British Virgin Islands
* Saba and St. Eustatius
* St. Maarten
* St. Martin and St. Barthelemy
* Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, and Montserrat
* The northern coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to
the border with Haiti

The center of Laura will move near or over portions of the Leeward Islands later today, near or over Puerto Rico Saturday morning, and near the northern coast of Hispaniola late Saturday and early Sunday.

Experts at the National Hurricane Center are anticipating Laura to slowly strengthen into a hurricane by Monday.

Spaghetti model by Cyclocane for Tropical Storm Laura. (NHC Image)

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