A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Saba, St Eustatius, St Maarten, Antigua, Barbuda, St Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla since they are expected to experience the effects of tropical depression 13 within the next 48 hours.

The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) has also advised persons with interests in the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico to monitor the progress of this system.

At 8 am AST/EDT, the centre of Tropical Depression Thirteen was located over the Atlantic Ocean about 830 miles (1335 km) east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands. It’s moving toward the west-northwest near 21 mph (33 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue for the next few days.

On the forecast track, the depression is expected to move near or north of the northern Leeward Islands by late Friday and near or north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Saturday.

TD 13 has maximum sustained winds near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts.

Gradual strengthening is forecast to take place and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm Laura later today.

The depression is expected to produce one to three inches of rain with isolated maximum totals of five inches through Sunday over the northern Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico.

“The details of the long-range track and intensity forecasts are more uncertain than usual since the system could move over portions of the Greater Antilles this weekend. However, this system could bring some rainfall and wind impacts to portions of Hispaniola, Cuba, the Bahamas, and Florida this weekend and early next week,” NHC added.

http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/tropical-storm-watches-issued-portions-northern-leewards-2