Erika peters out off coast of Leeward Islands

(CNS): A disorganized Tropical Storm which had formed in the Atlantic on Tuesday evening was weakening this morning (Wednesday 2  September) as it approached the Leeward Islands, the National Hurricane Centre said. Forecasters stated that sustained winds have decreased to near 45 mph and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 120 miles mainly to the northeast of the centre. The NHC said that while little change in strength is expected today some re-strengthening is possible tomorrow.

At 8:00am AST the centre of tropical storm Erika was located about 160 miles east-southeast of the Leeward Islands moving at near 7 mph though the NHC said it was likely to speed up as it passes near or over the Leeward Islands during the next day or so. Erika is expected to produce total rainfall of two to four inches over the northern Leeward Islands during the next couple of days with possible isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches.

Currently the storm is predicted to head towards the Bahamas and poses no current threat to the Cayman Islands.