Tropical Storm Grace formed Saturday morning in the Atlantic Ocean, while Fred was downgraded from tropical depression to a tropical wave as it headed into the eastern Gulf of Mexico.Both systems were expected to bring heavy rain and flooding. Fred, which has already been classified as a tropical storm before, could regain such strength later in the day or on Sunday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.The center said in its 8 a.m. EDT advisory that Grace was centered about 355 miles east-southeast of the Leeward Islands and could reach the Lesser Antilles by Saturday night. It was moving west at 22 mph with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.A tropical storm warning was issued for the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. A tropical storm watch was in effect for the British Virgin Islands. Forecasters said Grace could reach the Dominican Republic by Monday.Grace was forecast to bring 3 to 6 inches of rain to the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico into Monday.Meanwhile, Fred was re-classified as a tropical wave on Saturday morning and is expected to re-develop on Sunday over the Gulf of Mexico, according to forecasters with the National Hurricane Center.Interests in the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico from Mississippi to the Central Florida Panhandle should monitor the progress of the remnants of Fred, forecasters say. Watches could be required for portions of that area later in the weekend. As of 11 a.m., the system was 50 miles west of Havana, Cuba, and 125 miles southwest of Key West, Florida.Fred had maximum sustained winds of 35 miles per hour and was moving west-northwest at 12 miles per hour. A turn toward the northwest is expected by Saturday night, followed by a northward motion by Sunday night. On the forecast track, Fred or its remnants are expected to pass west of the lower Florida Keys Saturday afternoon, move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico Saturday night through Monday, and move inland over the northern Gulf coast Monday night.Fred is expected to re-develop into a tropical depression on Sunday, with gradual strengthening to a tropical storm expected after the system re-develops, the NHC says.There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.Once a tropical storm, Fred weakened to a depression by its spin over Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where it knocked out power to some 400,000 customers and caused flooding that forced officials to shut down part of the country’s aqueduct system, interrupting water service for hundreds of thousands of people. Local officials reported hundreds of people were evacuated and some buildings were damaged.Hearst Television contributed to this report.
Tropical Storm Grace formed Saturday morning in the Atlantic Ocean, while Fred was downgraded from tropical depression to a tropical wave as it headed into the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
Both systems were expected to bring heavy rain and flooding. Fred, which has already been classified as a tropical storm before, could regain such strength later in the day or on Sunday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
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The center said in its 8 a.m. EDT advisory that Grace was centered about 355 miles east-southeast of the Leeward Islands and could reach the Lesser Antilles by Saturday night. It was moving west at 22 mph with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.
A tropical storm warning was issued for the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. A tropical storm watch was in effect for the British Virgin Islands. Forecasters said Grace could reach the Dominican Republic by Monday.
Grace was forecast to bring 3 to 6 inches of rain to the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico into Monday.
Meanwhile, Fred was re-classified as a tropical wave on Saturday morning and is expected to re-develop on Sunday over the Gulf of Mexico, according to forecasters with the National Hurricane Center.
Interests in the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico from Mississippi to the Central Florida Panhandle should monitor the progress of the remnants of Fred, forecasters say. Watches could be required for portions of that area later in the weekend.
As of 11 a.m., the system was 50 miles west of Havana, Cuba, and 125 miles southwest of Key West, Florida.
Fred had maximum sustained winds of 35 miles per hour and was moving west-northwest at 12 miles per hour.
A turn toward the northwest is expected by Saturday night, followed by a northward motion by Sunday night. On the forecast track, Fred or its remnants are expected to pass west of the lower Florida Keys Saturday afternoon, move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico Saturday night through Monday, and move inland over the northern Gulf coast Monday night.
Fred is expected to re-develop into a tropical depression on Sunday, with gradual strengthening to a tropical storm expected after the system re-develops, the NHC says.
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
Once a tropical storm, Fred weakened to a depression by its spin over Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where it knocked out power to some 400,000 customers and caused flooding that forced officials to shut down part of the country’s aqueduct system, interrupting water service for hundreds of thousands of people. Local officials reported hundreds of people were evacuated and some buildings were damaged.
Hearst Television contributed to this report.
