ALERT #7 on Tropical Storm Erika

TS Erika remains unorganized but tropical storm watches and alerts are still in place. 

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES THE ISLANDS OF:

• INAGUA
• MAYAGUANA
• ACKLINS
• CROOKED ISLAND
• RAGGED ISLAND.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS CAN POSSIBLY BE EXPERIENCED IN THOSE ISLANDS WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM ALERT ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES THE ISLANDS OF:

• LONG ISLAND
• CAT ISLAND
• THE EXUMAS
• SAN SALVADOR
• RUM CAY.

A TROPICAL STORM ALERT MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS CAN POSSIBLY BE EXPERIENCED IN THOSE ISLANDS WITHIN THE NEXT 60 HOURS.

AT 2:00 PM EDT, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ERIKA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 16.5 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 63.8 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT 644 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF GRAND TURK, 724 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF INAGUA AND 1074 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEW PROVIDENCE. 

ERIKA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 16 MILES PER HOUR. A TURN TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST IS FORECAST LATER TODAY AND THIS GENERAL MOTION SHOULD CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 48 HOURS.  ON THIS TRACK, THE CENTER OF ERIKA WILL MOVE NEAR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES OF THE CENTER MAINLY TO EAST OF THE CENTER.

RAINFALL: ERIKA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES WITH MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 12 INCHES ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS THROUGH SATURDAY.

RESIDENTS IN THE AFOREMENTIONED ISLANDS SHOULD BEGIN TO SECURE 

THEIR PROPERTIES. SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF ERIKA.