Overnight, Tropical Depression #5 strengthened to become Tropical Storm Elsa.
At 5 a.m., the centre of Tropical Storm Elsa was located near latitude 9.4N, longitude 48.8W or about 770 miles (1 240km) eastsoutheast of Barbados.
Maximum sustained winds increased to about 40 miles per hour or 65 kilometres per hour and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km) from the centre.
Elsa is currently moving towards the west (275 degrees) at 25 mph (41 km/h). An even faster motion towards the west-northwest is expected over the 24 to 36 hours. On its current forecast track, the centre of tropical storm Elsa should pass about 40 miles (65km) to the south of Barbados on Friday morning.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect.
A tropical storm warning is issued when sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39–73 mph; 63 – 118km/h) associated with a tropical storm or hurricane are forecast to affect Barbados within 36 hours, in this case, the very early hours of Friday morning.
Rainfall accumulations of 6 to 8 inches are forecast across the country on Friday and watches or warnings for flash-flooding may be issued from Thursday evening. (PR/SAT)
