Issued by: Dale Lake
Emergency Communications Manager

WEATHER RELEASE

DEAN FORMS BETWEEN AFRICA AND THE LESSER ANTILLES

Tuesday 14th August 2007 12:30 p.m.  – At 10am Tropical Depression Four was upgraded to Tropical Storm Dean by the National Hurricane Center (NHC).  At 11:00 am the center of Dean was located near latitude 11.7N / 39.4W or about 1490 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.

Movement is to the west at 22 mph with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph with higher gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 35 miles mainly to the north of the center with higher gusts in squalls mainly southwest of the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1004 mb or 29.65 inches.

This motion, with gradual strengthening, is expected to continue during the next 24 hours. The NHC suggests that Dean will be a 90 mph hurricane, reaching the northeast Caribbean Sea on Saturday.

The current forward motion continues to prevent any intensification. Forecasters expect the forward speed to slowly decrease over the next 48 hours, allowing for gradual strengthening as the storm approaches the eastern Caribbean. Forecasts takes the maximum sustained winds up to hurricane force in just over 3 days and between 85-95 mph when the system reaches the northeast Caribbean Saturday afternoon/evening to very near eastern Puerto Rico mid to late Sunday morning.
Residents are advised to keep abreast of evolving forecasts for Tropical Storm Dean

DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT
#3 Wailing Road MacNamara
Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Ph. 284-494-4499 Fax: 284-494-2024
E-Mail: [email protected]