Tropical storm Fred moves closer to Haiti

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Haiti, as Tropical Storm Fred moved closer towards the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country on Wednesday.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that the storm, which is 115 miles, east-south-east of the Dominica Republic, has maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour (mph).

The tropical storm warning is also in effect for the Dominican Republic, while a tropical storm watch has gone into effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands and southeastern Bahamas.

Tropical Storm Fred is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph and a general west-northwestward motion is expected to begin later today and continue for the next few days, the NHC said.

“On the forecast track, the center of Fred is expected to be near or over Hispaniola later today, move near the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas on Thursday, and move north of the northern coast of central Cuba on Friday.

“Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Some weakening is likely while the system interacts with Hispaniola later today,” the NHC added.

It said Tropical Storm Fred is expected to produce up to six inches of rainfall over Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic and that heavy rainfall could lead to flash, urban, and small stream flooding, along with possible rapid river rises and the potential for mudslides

Haiti, the Turks and Caicos, eastern Bahamas, and eastern Cuba, could expect up to five inches of rain.

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