BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Aug. 24, CMC – A strong tropical wave and associated area of low pressure is impacting weather conditions in the northern Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Miami based National Hurricane Centre said an Air Force Reconnaissance aircraft and surface observations indicate that the system still lacks a well defined circulation but is producing tropical storm force winds in squalls over the northern most Leeward Islands and adjacent waters.

Environmental conditions are expected to become more conducive for development by the weekend as the system approaches the central or northwest Bahamas.

However, regardless of development squalls to tropical storm force should be expected over portions of the northern Leeward Islands and the north US and British Virgin Islands by Wednesday afternoon.

Strong winds, heavy rains and possible flash floods and mudslides are expected over portions of the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola.

The Hurricane centre says interests in the northwestern Bahamas and Florida should monitor the progress of the disturbance.

The centre notes that due to uncertainties regarding the development of the system, it is too early to speculate on the impact of the system on the northwestern Bahamas, Florida and beyond.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Gaston, the only named storm in the Atlantic, poses no immediate threat to land.

According to the latest forecast, Gaston is expected to later strengthen to a hurricane and stay in open water though early Monday morning.

CMC/kb/2016