Tropical storm Kirk approaching Lesser Antilles

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Tropical storm Kirk intensified on Wednesday as it makes its way towards the eastern Caribbean with several countries being put on a tropical storm warning.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said that the storm, which earlier this week had degenerated into a depression, was now packing winds of 50 miles per hour and was located 360 miles east south east of Barbados and 485 miles east south east of the French island of Martinique.

Tropical storm warnings have been issued for Barbados, St Lucia, Dominica, Martinique, and Guadeloupe, with the NHC saying that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

According to the NHC, the centre of Tropical Storm Kirk was located near latitude 12.1 North, longitude 54.3 West and is moving toward the west near 18 miles per hour.

“A westward to west-northwestward motion is expected over the next few days. On the forecast track, the centre will move over the Lesser Antilles within the Tropical Storm Warning area Thursday night.”

NHC said that little change in strengthening is forecast until Kirk crosses the Lesser Antilles, followed by weakening over the eastern Caribbean Sea.

It said that tropical storm conditions are expected to first reach the warning area by Thursday afternoon, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

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