Tropical Storm Erika continues to struggle against a hostile environment in the Caribbean Sea, and faces an uphill climb to maintain its identity as a tropical cyclone over the next day or so.
An Uncertain Future: U.S. Threat?
Beyond that, the forecast continues to have a large amount of uncertainty.
First, Erika may not survive the hostile environment over the Caribbean the next day or so. The steering pattern and a somewhat more conducive environment for strengthening may be in play after that if Erika can survive.
Highlights
- Tropical Storm Erika is located near the coast of the Dominican Republic, but is still very poorly organized.
- Tropical storm warnings continue in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Turks and Caicos, and the central and southeast Bahamas.
- Deadly, destructive flooding has been reported in Dominica, in the Lesser Antilles, Thursday. Strong wind gusts were reported in St. Croix and St. Thomas.
- Erika will bring locally heavy rain and gusty winds to drought-suffering Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hispanola.
- There is potential for Erika to dissipate as a tropical cyclone over the mountains of the Dominican Republic.
- Erika’s future track and intensity late this weekend and beyond remains highly uncertain regarding potential U.S. impact, which could occur anywhere from the Florida peninsula to the Carolinas.
