The National Hurricane Center was monitoring Tropical Storm Dorian, just under 800 kilometres east of Tobago. On its present forecast track, this tropical storm is forecast to remain north of Trinidad and Tobago, moving across the Windward islands late today into tomorrow.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for Barbados as of yesterday afternoon, as tropical-storm-force winds are expected in 36 hours or less. Tropical storm warnings are also in effect for St Lucia and the St Vincent and the Grenadines, as tropical-storm-force winds are possible within 48 hours. There are also tropical storm watches in effect for St Vincent and the Grenadines and Martinique.
For Barbados, St Lucia and the St Vincent and the Grenadines, tropical-storm-force sustained winds and gusts and periods of showers and thunderstorms are forecast to bring possible street and flash flooding, landslides and wind damage to the region. 25 to 100 millimetres of rainfall is possible across the region with isolated totals up to 150 millimetres.
Coastal flooding is also possible due to storm surge and large waves between 2.5 and 3.5 metres in open waters for Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines as well as St Lucia. King tides are forecast to occur during this upcoming week, which results in higher than usual high tides and lower than usual low tides.
This may result in continuing coastal flooding following the passage of Dorian later this upcoming week. For Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada, as of 2pm yesterday, no alerts were in effect for these islands. However, periphery effects such as “feeder band” activity are possible, particularly late this morning through early Wednesday.
Periods of showers and thunderstorms may interrupt mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies across T&T. Street and flash flooding, gusty winds and landslides may occur in the vicinity of heavy showers and thunderstorms. Moderate seas are also forecast for the northern and eastern coastal waters of T&T. There were no watches or alerts for Trinidad and Tobago up to late yesterday evening. Already LIAT has cancelled 15 flights. Affected passengers have been asked to rebook by August 28th.