Tropical Storm Erika

NOAA announced this afternoon that the tropical depression east of the Virgin Islands is now officially Tropical Storm Erika. Track map is shown on the right.

Erika will not become a hurricane until it clears the Bahamas in route to the east coast of the US. But it is a dangerous storm with winds reaching 60 MPH and dumping 2-4 inches of rain on the Northeast Caribbean islands over the next 24 hours alone.

NOAA warns: "A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ST. MAARTEN, ANTIGUA, BARBUDA, ST. KITTS, NEVIS, ANGUILLA, ST. MARTIN AND ST. BARTHELEMY."

Next islands to be affected include the British Virgin islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke and the US Virgin Islands of St. John, St. Thomas and St. Croix. Then Dominican Republic, Haiti, Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas will feel the strenth of Tropical Storm Erika.

Stay tuned into NOAA for the most urgent and up to date information.