Tropical Storm Dolly is moving west across the Atlantic and is expected to bring heavy rainfall to parts of the Caribbean this weekend, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) says. The system forms on Thursday and, as of Friday, it has maximum sustained winds near 40 mph (about 65 km/h), with higher gusts.
Dolly is forecast to approach the Leeward Islands later this weekend. Multiple outlets report it is currently well east of land and moving westward at roughly the high-20s mph (about 39 km/h). Forecasts indicate little change in strength over the next 48 hours, followed by weakening into a tropical wave before or as it nears the Leeward Islands. While it is expected to no longer be a tropical cyclone by the time it passes nearby, outlets warn that rainfall impacts can still be significant.
The main differing emphasis is on the forecast timing and regional scope. One report highlights potential flash flooding from heavy rain, especially in higher terrain, with effects described as late Saturday into Sunday in the Leeward Islands and extending to places including the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola into Sunday and Monday. Other outlets focus more generally on the storm’s formation far from land and its rain threat for Caribbean areas.
