Tropical
Storm Chantal was named late last night as the third Atlantic tropical cyclone
of the 2013 season. Little overall change in strength, speed, or heading
has occurred since then. As of midday Monday July 8th, the center of Chantal
was located about 550 miles east-southeast of the island of Barbados, moving
west-northwest around 25 mph with maximum winds around 45 mph.
Tropical
Storm Warnings have been posted for Barbados as well as the Caribbean islands
from St. Lucia to Guadeloupe. Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for
the islands of Puerto Rico and St. Vincent.
Chantal is
forecast to cross the Windward Islands and enter the east Caribbean Sea around
daybreak Tuesday, cross the south coast of Hispaniola around sunset Wednesday,
pass through the Windward Passage around daybreak Thursday, then pass just east
of Andros Island Friday morning. Chantal is then forecast to decelerate
and weaken to a tropical depression as she transits the northern Bahamas
through daybreak Saturday.
While this
track will place the Florida Peninsula on Chantal's "weaker" western
flank, there remains considerable uncertainty in the forecast at this
time. At the very least, the current track suggests potential disruption
of marine operations this weekend as well as the potential for coastal
flooding, beach erosion, and dangerous surf conditions. Inland flooding
potential will be present as well, as even a tropical depression can generate
torrential rain in its outer rain bands.
