Update: Weather statement on Tropical Storm Gonzalo

The Barbados Meteorological Services (BMS) continues to monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Gonzalo, located near 9.9 north,  43.6 west. This is about 1770 km or 1100 miles to the east of Barbados.

In its 11 a.m weather statement, the BMS said the  system is moving towards the west at 14 miles-per-hour or 22 km/h. A generally westward motion at a faster forward speed is expected during the next few days.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 50 miles-per-hour or 85km/h.

 

Gonzalo is a small tropical cyclone, as tropical-storm-force winds extend outward only up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center. The system has become better defined within the past few hours and this is evident by the improvement in the banding to the north and west of the system, in addition visible satellite imagery has been indicating a hint of an eye developing.

If this trend continues then the system could be on a rapid intensification trend this afternoon. Due to the small nature of the storm, these fluctuations in intensity up or down are highly likely. As a result Gonzalo could become a category one hurricane within the next 12 to 24 hours.

As the system continues to track westward across the Central Atlantic a tropical storm watch maybe issued for Barbados sometime on Wednesday night. Current forecast tracks suggest that the center should pass about 105 miles or 160 km to the south of Barbados on Saturday morning. (BMS)