Erika causes flight cancellations

Storms are causing havoc to LIAT's flight schedule.

Today the Caribbean Airline announced that it has cancelled five flights on Wednesday; 11 on Thursday and one on Friday.

Wednesday cancellations for Dominica:

LI 524 Barbados to Dominica to Antigua

Cancellations for Thursday, August 27:

LI 581 Antigua to Dominica to Barbados

LI 560 Dominica to San Juan

LI 561 San Juan to Dominica

Meantime, the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) of Miami Florida reported that at 2.00 pm the centre of Tropical Storm Erika was located near latitude 15.3 North, longitude 51.8 West.

The NHC says: "Erika is moving toward the west near 20 mph (31 km/h), and a west-north westward motion at a slightly slower forward speed is expected over the next 48 hours. On the forecast track, the centre of Erika will be near the Leeward Islands Wednesday night and early Thursday.

"Maximum sustained winds remain near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Some slow strengthening is possible during the next 48 hours. An Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate Erika later this afternoon.

"Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 80 miles (130 km) from the centre.

"The estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches).

"A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, and St. Barthelemy."