Tropical Storm Karen is moving into the Caribbean Sea and the early forecast is predicting it will travel north over or very close to Puerto Rico.
As a result, a tropical storm watch has been issued for Puerto Rico as well as both the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. The watch means tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 48 hours.
Karen was about 60 miles north of Grenada, according to the 2 p.m. Sunday public advisory from the National Hurricane Center. The storm’s strongest sustained winds were about 40 mph.
Karen is so far expected to remain a tropical storm until at least Friday.
A tropical storm warning, meaning that tropical storm conditions are expected, is in effect Grenada and its dependencies and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. An earlier tropical storm warning for Trinidad and Tobago has been lifted.
“On the forecast track, the center of Karen will move away from the Windward Islands later today, and then across the eastern Caribbean Sea tonight and Monday,” stated the 2 p.m. Sunday public advisory from the National Hurricane Center. “On Tuesday, Karen is expected to approach Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.”
Karen, which formed Sunday, is one of three tropical systems being monitored by the hurricane center.
Tropical Storm Jerry, which had winds of 65 mph, was heading north in the Atlantic, with the threat of tropical storm-force winds increasing for Bermuda.
“A turn toward the north is expected on Monday, followed by a turn toward the northeast late Tuesday,” Senior Hurricane Specialist Richard Pasch wrote in the 11 a.m. public advisory for Tropical Storm Jerry. “On the forecast track, the center of Jerry is expected to pass near Bermuda late Tuesday.”
Also, a new disturbance rolling off the African coast has been given a 90% chance of development. This disturbance, a wave of thunderstorms moving off Africa, is quickly becoming organized and is expected to become a tropical depression or a tropical storm today or tonight. The potential system is expected to travel west across the Atlantic.
More Top Picks Best Gooseneck Kettles For Pour Over
The next tropical storm will be named Tropical Storm Lorenzo.
Neither tropical storms Karen or Jerry, nor the disturbance near Africa that could become Lorenzo, is considered to be a threat to Florida or the U.S. at this point.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.