A tropical storm watch is in effect for Barbados as the first advisory was issued at 5 p.m. on Potential Tropical Cyclone #5.
A release from the Barbados Meteorological Services said the weather system was located at latitude 9.6N, longitude 43.7W or about 1 100 miles (1 770 KM) east of Barbados with maximum sustained winds of 35 miles per hour or 55km/h.
The system is moving west northwest at 21 miles per hour at 33km/h and this is expected to continue with an increase in forward speed over the next few days.
Rainfall accumulations of 6 to 8 inches are forecast across Barbados on Friday. Watches or warnings for flash-flooding may be issued from Thursday evening.
A tropical-storm watch is issued when sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39-73 mph; 63-118 km/h) associated with a tropical storm or hurricane are forecast to affect Barbados within 48 hours. In this case by as early as Friday morning.
A small craft and high-surf advisory will also be in effect for Barbados for above normal swell heights from 6 p.m. Wednesday through 6 a.m. Saturday
A small-craft advisory is issued when sustained winds of 20 to 25 knots and/or sea swells of 2.5 to 3.0 metres (8 to 10 feet) and/or reduced visibility (less than 10 km but greater than 5 km) are affecting or forecast to affect the marine area within the next 36 hours.
A High Surf Advisory is issued when breaking wave action poses or is forecast to pose a threat to life and property within the surf zone during the next 36 hours.
Large open water swells can be hazardous to some vessels and operation of smaller vessels can be difficult at times due to large swells. (PR/SAT)
