In response to the impending threat of Tropical Storm Tammy, Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, decided to cut short his participation in the historic summit between Canada and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders.
He is expected to return to Dominica on Thursday.
Reports are that Tropical Storm Tammy is steadily strengthening, posing a potential hurricane risk by the weekend.
Summit interrupted by storm’s approach
Prime Minister Skerrit, who also serves as the chairman of CARICOM, had been co-chairing the inaugural summit of Canada and CARICOM leaders that began in Ottawa on Wednesday.
Tropical Storm warning across the Lesser Antilles
The government of Dominica issued a statement highlighting the urgency of Prime Minister Skerrit’s return, emphasizing that Tropical Storm Tammy was approaching the Lesser Antilles.
A Tropical Storm warning has been issued for Dominica, Barbados, as well as the French islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe.
Storm’s rapid strengthening worries forecasters
The National Hurricane Centre (NHC), based in Miami, reported that Tropical Storm Tammy, situated approximately 460 miles east of the Windward Islands, has been steadily gaining strength.
With maximum sustained winds reaching 40 miles per hour (mph), the NHC anticipates the need for additional watches and warnings to be issued in the coming hours.
Tammy’s projected path
Tammy is tracking westward at a speed of 17 mph.
According to the NHC’s forecast, it is expected to make a west-northwestward turn tonight, followed by a northwestward trajectory on Friday night or Saturday.
The storm’s path is anticipated to bring it near or over the Leeward Islands, with further strengthening possible.
There is a potential for Tammy to reach hurricane intensity by the end of the weekend.
Heavy rainfall
The storm is expected to deliver heavy rainfall across the region, with accumulations ranging from three to six inches and localized maximum amounts of up to 10 inches, primarily affecting the northern Windward and Leeward Islands.
The NHC also warned of life-threatening surf and rip current conditions generated by Tammy.
