NHC issues first warnings on tropical storm Emily

(CNS): The fifth storm of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season formed around 50 miles west-southwest of Dominica on Tuesday evening. At 6:30 local time Tropical Strom Emily was located 15.2N 62.0W about 350 miles south-east of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The National Hurricane Centre in Miami said Emily had reached maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving west at 17 mph. Forecasters were predicting a turn toward the west-northwest and a slight decrease in forward speed over the next couple of days.  If Emily remains on track it is expected to move across the North-eastern Caribbean Sea where watches and warnings are in effect for the Windward Islands.

The NHC said general strengthening was expected as Emily headed towards the island of Hispaniola Tuesday night and Wednesday with general strengthening expected. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles mainly to the north of the centre.

Tropical storm conditions were said to already be occurring or imminent in the warning area in the Windward Islands and were expected in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic Tuesday.

Currently the five day forecast has Emily passing across Cuba and avoiding the Cayman Islands but a slight change in the forecasted track could bring the storm closer to the Cayman area.