Dorian Gains Strength

In this satellite image provided by NOAA, Tropical Storm Dorian is seen in the lower right corner as it gains strength, Aug. 26, 2019. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center expect Dorian to become a hurricane, but say the storm’s future intensity is difficult to be certain of. (NOAA via Key News)

Much of the eastern Caribbean island of Barbados shut down on Monday as Tropical Storm Dorian approached the region and gathered strength, threatening to turn into a small hurricane that forecasters said could affect the northern Windward islands and Puerto Rico in upcoming days.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley closed schools and government offices across Barbados as she warned people to remain indoors.

“When you’re dead, you’re dead,” she said in a televised address late Sunday. “Stay inside and get some rest.”

The U.S. National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for St. Lucia and a tropical storm warning for Barbados, Martinique, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It also issued a tropical storm watch for Dominica, Grenada, Saba and St. Eustatius. The storm was expected to dump between 3 to 8 inches (8 to 20 centimeters) of rain in Barbados and nearby islands, with isolated amounts of 10 inches (25 centimeters).

In Key Biscayne, Fire Chief Eric Lang said the system is being tracked. “This storm clearly has my attention and it is something we will be monitoring very, very closely.”

Lang urged residents to review their hurricane plans, especially looking out for relatives, friends, and neighbors with special needs. The Village, coincidentally, is set to review emergency plans at Tuesday’s council meeting.

In this graphic provided by the National Hurricane Center, the predicted track for Tropical Storm Dorian as of 11 a.m., Monday, Aug. 26th, 2019 is seen. (National Hurricane Center via Key News)

The U.S. National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for St. Lucia and a tropical storm warning for Barbados, Martinique, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It also issued a tropical storm watch for Dominica, Grenada, Saba and St. Eustatius. The storm was expected to dump between 3 to 8 inches (8 to 20 centimeters) of rain in Barbados and nearby islands, with isolated amounts of 10 inches (25 centimeters).

As of 11 a.m. EDT Monday, the fourth tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season was centered about 135 miles (220 kilometers) east-southeast of Barbados and moving west at 14 mph (22 kph). Maximum sustained winds were at 60 mph (85 kph). Forecasters said it could brush past southwest Puerto Rico late Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane and then strike the southeast corner of the Dominican Republic early Thursday.

Key News’ Tony Winton contributed to this report.