At 11 a.m. Tropical Depression #13 was upgraded to Tropical Storm Laura.
And in spite of this change, the Met Office says it has issued the last bulletin on the system, since it poses no threat to Barbados.
Tropical Storm Laura was located near 17.0N 60.2W or about 430 miles (270 km) to the north of Barbados. Maximum sustained winds are 45 mph (75 km/h), extending outwards up to 150 miles (240 km) from the centre.
The present movement is to the west at 18 miles (30 km/h) with an estimated minimum central pressure of 1007mb (29.74 inches).
Official reports from reconnaissance aircraft which investigated the system on Friday morning, found that the centre of Laura was located slightly south of the previously estimated location. Although it appears to be better organised, it still lacks well-defined banding features, but slow strengthening is expected over the next 48 hours.
Numerical model data is predicting that Tropical Storm Laura will move west-northwestward across the northern Leeward Islands. Based on the current track, this system will continue well north of Barbados on Friday and therefore poses no direct threat to the island.
As the system moves towards the west, trailing moisture and instability is likely to bring occasional light to moderate shower activity and a chance of isolated thunderstorms to the island on Friday night. (PR/SAT)
