A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Barbados, however, no national shutdown order has been given.
Acting Prime Minister Dale Marshall made the announcement a short while ago following the Barbados Meteorological Services (BMS) 5 a.m. weather bulletin.
At 5:00 AM, the center of Tropical Storm Kirk was located near latitude 13.5 North, longitude 58.3 West. Kirk is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph (26 km/h), and this general motion with a slight decrease in forward speed is expected over the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of Kirk will move across the Lesser Antilles within the tropical storm warning. Tropcial Storm Kirk is expected to pass 50 miles to the north of Barbados between 9:00 am-10: 00 am
Maximum sustained winds remain near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is anticipated during the next couple of days, but Kirk is forecast to move across the Lesser Antilles and into the eastern Caribbean Sea as a tropical storm. Another Air Force reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to investigate Kirk later this morning.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 120 miles (190 km), mostly north and east of the center. (AD)
