According to a Monday morning update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Tropical Depression Chantal has been upgraded to Tropical Storm Chantal and she is moving quickly on a track toward the Lesser Antilles.
As of 8:00 a.m. AST, Chantal was located approximately 632 miles east-southeast of Barbados. The storm is moving toward the west at approximately 26 mph. Chantal is expected to keep the same pace over the next 36 to 48 hours, but is forecast to change her trajectory to the west-northwest.
The center of the storm is expected to reach the Lesser Antilles on Tuesday, early in the day. As the day continues, Chantal is likely to move into the eastern Caribbean Sea; between Wednesday and Thursday the forecast shows Chantal on a path straight through Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The storm will likely continue on through eastern Cuba on Friday and into the Bahamas by early Saturday.
A tropical storm warning has been issued for Barbados, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Martinique and Guadelupe, meaning tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area over the next 24 to 36 hours. A tropical storm watch is in place for Saint Vincent, indicating tropical storm conditions are possible somewhere within the watch area in the next 24 hours. The NHC advises that other areas in the eastern Caribbean should monitor the storm's progress.
Maximum sustained winds are currently blowing at approximately 40 mph, with higher gusts being recorded. Winds are expected to strengthen over the next 48 hours. Tropical storm force winds are currenting extending outward up to 60 miles from the center of the storm.
Hazards resulting from Tropical Storm Chantal are also expected to begin affecting land in the warning area as well as the watch area by early on Tuesday.
Chantal is expected to drop between 2 to 4 inches of rain over the Leeward and Windward islands, with maximum isolated amounts of up to 6 inches.
The NHC will issue its next complete advisory on the storm at approximately 11:00 a.m. AST. Stay tuned for additional details.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
