US: Tropical Storm Dorian inching towad Puerto Rico

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Tropical Storm Dorian is expected Wednesday to hit Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with heavy rains, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The storm is 25 miles southeast of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, packing winds of 70 mph (112 kph) and moving northwest at 13 mph (20 kph). A Category 1 hurricane has minimum sustained winds of 74 mph (119 kph).

Puerto Rico is still recovering from Hurricane Maria which destroyed and flooded large swathes of the island in 2017. The federal government has sent 3,000 emergency responders to the American territory as Dorian approaches.

Authorities said storm conditions are possible Thursday in the Dominican Republic, as the weather worsens late Wednesday.

Officials warned it could bring “heavy rainfall" to parts of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands that could result in flash floods. Rainfalls in the southern and western Puerto Rico are expected to be between 4 and 6 inches with isolated areas receiving as much as 8 inches.

Puerto Rico declared a state of emergency late Monday as forecasters warn Dorian could strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane as it gains strength in the Atlantic Ocean.

"Heavy rains are expected to occur over portions of the Bahamas and Florida later this week and into early next week," officials said.

The NHC highlighted the threat of the tropical storm in the Bahamas and along parts of the Florida’s east coast increased. It urged residents in this areas to monitor Dorian and ensure they have a hurricane plan in place.

The uncertainty of the storm's strength remains "higher than usual" due to the large spread of the storm on computer models, it said.