The following bulletin was issued by the Barbados Meteorological Services around midnight.
INVESTIGATION BY RECONNAISSANCE aircraft this afternoon indicated that the strong tropical wave to the east of Barbados has not yet become a tropical depression.
However, the system is producing winds near tropical storm force and the accompanying thunderstorm activity remains reasonably well organised.
Environmental conditions are conducive for continued gradual development and a tropical depression or tropical storm could still form during the course of the night or early tomorrow.
Based on analysis of satellite imagery during the past few hours, the system appears to be taking a more west-northwesterly track at about 15 to 20 mph or 24 to32 kmh. On this track, most of the stronger winds and deeper convection should pass north of the island.
However, regardless of tropical cyclone development, some pockets of moderate to heavy showers, periods of rain, thunderstorms and occasional gusty winds are expected to spread across the island today Wednesday.
Rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches (50 to 100 millimetres) are possible, with sea swells of 3 to 4 metres (10 to 13 feet) in open water. This will prompt a warning for small craft and sea bathers into tomorrow.
Residents in Barbados should continue to monitor the progress of this system.
This information will be updated at 6 a.m. tomorrow or sooner if conditions warrant.
This and other related information may be obtained from
www.barbadosweather.org or www.agriculture.gov.bb or by dialling 9762376 (PR)
