Storm warnings issued for potential tropical cyclone

By Caribbean News Now contributor/ MIAMI, USA.- Tropical storm warnings have been issued for Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and Venezuela from Pedernales to Cumana including Isla de Margarita. A tropical storm watch is in effect for Bonaire and Aruba.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, at 11 am EDT Monday, a tropical disturbance was centered about 325 miles (525 km) east-southeast of Trinidad and about 405 miles (650 km) southeast of Grenada, moving toward the west near 25 mph (41 km/h).  

A fast motion toward the west-northwest is expected over the next 48 hours.  On the forecast track, the disturbance is expected to move through the Windward Islands and near the eastern coast of Venezuela on Monday night and early Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is expected during the next 48 hours, and the disturbance is forecast to be a tropical storm when it moves through the Windward Islands and eastern Venezuela on Monday night and Tuesday.

Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach portions of the warning area on Monday night, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

The disturbance is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 2 to 4 inches over the Windward Islands and the northeastern Venezuela on Monday night and Tuesday.

The Meteorological Office in Trinidad issued bulletin saying the country should begin to experience tropical storm conditions between midnight and 6 am Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a broad area of low pressure extending from the Yucatan Peninsula across adjacent portions of the southeastern Gulf of Mexico continues to produce a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms along with winds to gale force several hundred miles east and northeast of the estimated center.  

While the low still lacks a well-defined center of circulation, gradual development is expected today through Tuesday while it moves across the southern and central Gulf of Mexico, and a tropical or subtropical cyclone is likely to form.  

Regardless of development, heavy rains are expected to continue over portions of Central America, the Yucatan Peninsula, the Cayman Islands, and western Cuba during the next day or two.  An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft was scheduled to investigate this system later Monday, if necessary.