A new named tropical system, Tropical Storm Dolly, has developed in the central waters of the tropical Atlantic, prompting official warnings for communities across the Leeward Islands to keep close track of the storm’s trajectory as the weekend approaches.
In its latest official update issued at 11 a.m. Atlantic Standard Time on Thursday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) confirmed that Dolly is currently positioned roughly 1,555 miles (2,505 kilometers) east of the Leeward Island chain. The storm carries maximum sustained wind speeds of 40 miles per hour (65 kilometers per hour), which meets the threshold for classification as a tropical storm, and is advancing westward at a brisk 24 miles per hour (39 kilometers per hour).
Per the NHC’s current forecast track, Dolly is on course to approach the Leeward Islands by this weekend. But meteorologists do not anticipate the system to gain much strength over the next two days; instead, they project that Dolly will weaken back into an open tropical wave long before it reaches the island chain.
As of Thursday’s update, no coastal watches or warnings are active for the region. Even so, the NHC emphasizes that local stakeholders and residents in the Leeward Islands should remain vigilant and continue following updates on the storm’s development.
While the storm itself is expected to degenerate, the moisture associated with the system is still forecast to bring significant precipitation to the region. Heavy downpours could start impacting parts of the Leeward Islands as early as late Saturday, continuing through Sunday. Neighboring areas including the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola are likely to see periods of intense rain on Sunday and Monday.
Forecasters warn that this heavy rainfall carries a risk of dangerous flash flooding, especially in higher-elevation areas that are more prone to rapid runoff. Right now, tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from Dolly’s central circulation. The NHC plans to release its next full advisory on the storm at 5 p.m. AST Thursday.