Erika washes Roseau

Roseau, Dominica, 26 August, 2015- Although Dominica is out of the direct path of Tropical Storm Erika yet the island received some torrential showers this morning as the storm heads towards the Leeward Islands tonight and tomorrow.

The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) of Miami, Florida has predicted that the storm will drench the islands with 3 to 5 inches of rain, with maximum amounts of 8 inches across portions of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico through Friday morning.

According to the NHC at 2 pm today "the centre of Tropical Storm Erika was located near latitude 16.3 North, longitude 58.2 West. Erika is moving toward the west near 17 mph (28 km/h), and a west to west-north-westward motion is expected over the next 48 hours. On the forecast track, the centre of Erika will move near or over portions of the Leeward Islands tonight, move near the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Thursday, and be near or just north of the north coast of the Dominican Republic on Friday.

"Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km) primarily to the east of the centre".

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Anguilla, Saba and St. Eustatius, St. Maarten St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands,

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Guadeloupe.