Dominica Met Office issues severe weather alert for a strong Tropical Wave east of the Lesser Antilles

Dominica Met Office issues a severe weather alert for a strong Tropical Wave later today. The system is located east of the Lesser Antilles. According to the Met Office, the system is producing a large area of cloudiness, showers & thunderstorm activity
 
“Environmental Conditions are marginally favorable for gradual development while the disturbance moves west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph. Environmental conditions are expected to become more conducive for a tropical depression to form by later this week,” a release from the Met Office stated.
 
However, the Met Office said that regardless of development, the system is expected to bring moderate to heavy rainfall and thunderstorm activity along with gusty winds to the Northern portion of the island chain, to include Dominica, beginning later this afternoon. Moderate to rough seas are also expected in areas of showers and thunderstorm. Current model projected rainfall is approximately 2.5 to 3 inches (60 – 75 mm) with higher amounts especially in elevated areas.
 
The Met Office is calling on all interests in Dominica to monitor the progress of this system, and advises persons in areas prone to flooding, landslides and falling rocks to be vigilant, and to exercise extreme caution as flash flooding could be possible.
 
Persons in vulnerable areas should plan ahead and take all precautionary measures to reduce impact on life and property particularly from tonight into Wednesday, according to the Met Office advisory.
 
Meanwhile, a tropical depression located in the far eastern Atlantic has strengthened into the seventh tropical storm of the season, Gaston. At 5 o’clock this morning, maximum sustained winds were near 50 mph and the system is moving west north west at 20 mph. Gaston is forecast to become a hurricane by Wednesday as it continues to strengthen over the open waters of the Atlantic.
 
The public is advised to keep informed on these systems by listening to Q95 for further updates provided by the Dominica Met Service, and by calling the weather hotline at (767) 447-5555 or login to its  website at www.weather.gov.dm/forecast
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