Tropical Storm Dolly Picks Up Speed Moving West, Heavy Rain Could Reach Leeward Islands This Weekend

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Tropical Storm Dolly continues to move rapidly across the central Atlantic, with forecasters expecting the system or its remnants to approach the Leeward Islands this weekend.

As of 5 a.m. ET, the center of Dolly was moving west at approximately 24 mph, a general motion expected to continue during the next couple of days.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 40 mph with higher gusts. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles north of the storm’s center.

Forecasters expect little change in strength during the next couple of days.

However, Dolly is predicted to degenerate into a tropical wave before reaching the Leeward Islands.

There are currently no coastal watches or warnings in effect, but residents and visitors in the Leeward Islands should continue monitoring the storm’s progress.

Heavy rainfall associated with Dolly could begin affecting the Leeward Islands late Saturday and continue into Sunday.

Rainfall is then expected to spread into the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola Sunday and Monday.

The National Hurricane Center warned that heavy rain could produce flash flooding, particularly across higher terrain in the Leeward Islands.

Residents in potentially affected areas should monitor future forecasts and be prepared for changing weather conditions as Dolly moves westward.

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