Tropical Storm Kirk: Warnings Issued for Caribbean Islands

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Tropical Storm Kirk is slated to produce heavy rainfall over several Caribbean islands as it makes landfall later in the week, according to current predictions.

In an 11 a.m. update on Sept. 27, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Kirk, which weakened before strengthening again back into a tropical storm, is about 45 miles north-northeast of Barbados and 130 miles east-southeast of Martinique.

The storm has 50 mph winds and is moving west-northwest at 15 mph, the agency said, adding that several warnings and watches are in effect.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for St. Lucia, Barbados, Dominica, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. A watch is in effect for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Tropical Storm Kirk is churning in the Caribbean Sea on Sept. 27. (NHC)

“Interests elsewhere in the central and northern Lesser Antilles should monitor the progress of Kirk,” the NHC said, adding that “on the forecast track, the center of Kirk will move across the Lesser Antilles within the tropical storm warning area by this evening.”

The NHC noted that while winds might not be of major concern, rainfall is.

“Kirk is expected to produce total rainfall of 4 to 6 inches across the northern Windward and southern Leeward Islands with isolated maximum totals up to 10 inches across Martinique and Dominica,“ according to the NHC. ”These rains may produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. Across eastern Puerto Rico, Kirk is expected to bring 2 to 4 inches with isolated maximum totals of 6 inches by Friday and Saturday.”

In its discussion, the NHC said the Kirk is likely going to “degenerate into a remnant” low-pressure area in two to three days.