1. Dorian is expected to bring tropical storm conditions to portions of the Lesser Antilles tonight and Tuesday, where tropical storm
watches and warnings are in effect. Hurricane conditions are possible in St. Lucia, where a Hurricane Watch is in effect. Rainfall of 3 to 8 inches is expected from Martinique to St. Vincent, including Barbados, with isolated totals as high as 10 inches possible.

2. Tropical storm conditions are possible in Puerto Rico on Wednesday, where a tropical storm watch has been issued. Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches with maximum totals of 6 inches are possible across Puerto Rico and St. Croix.

3. Watches will likely be issued for portions of Hispaniola tonight or Tuesday, as the threat of wind and rain impacts continues to increase.

4. While uncertainty is high, wind and rain impacts are possible in the Bahamas and Florida later this week and this weekend. Residents in these areas should monitor the progress of Dorian and ensure that they have their hurricane plan in place.

1. Dorian is expected to bring tropical storm conditions to portions of the Lesser Antilles tonight and Tuesday, where tropical storm watches and warnings are in effect. Hurricane conditions are possible in St. Lucia, where a Hurricane Watch is in effect. Rainfall of 3 to 8 inches is expected from Martinique to St. Vincent, including Barbados, with isolated totals as high as 10 inches possible.

2. Tropical storm conditions are possible in Puerto Rico on Wednesday, where a tropical storm watch has been issued. Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches with maximum totals of 6 inches are possible across Puerto Rico and St. Croix.

3. Watches will likely be issued for portions of Hispaniola tonight or Tuesday, as the threat of wind and rain impacts continues to increase.

4. While uncertainty is high, wind and rain impacts are possible in the Bahamas and Florida later this week and this weekend. Residents in these areas should monitor the progress of Dorian and ensure that they have their hurricane plan in place.

1. Dorian is expected to bring tropical storm conditions to portions of the Lesser Antilles through Tuesday morning, where tropical storm watches and warnings are in effect. Rainfall of 3 to 8 inches is expected from Martinique to St. Vincent, including Barbados, with isolated totals as high as 10 inches possible.

2. Tropical storm conditions are possible in Puerto Rico on Wednesday, where a tropical storm watch has been issued. Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches with maximum totals of 6 inches are possible across Puerto Rico and St. Croix.

3. Watches will likely be issued for portions of Hispaniola early Tuesday, as the threat of wind and rain impacts continues to increase.

4. While uncertainty is high, wind and rain impacts are possible in the Bahamas and Florida later this week and this weekend. Residents in these areas should monitor the progress of Dorian and ensure that they have their hurricane plan in place.

WHAT'S NEW:

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for Puerto Rico.

SUMMARY OF ALERTS:

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
- St. Lucia

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
- Barbados
- Martinique
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
- Dominica
- Grenada and its dependencies
- Saba and St. Eustatius
- Puerto Rico

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case, within the next 24 hours.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours. Interests in the Virgin Islands and Hispaniola should monitor the progress of Dorian as watches for these areas could be required tonight or Tuesday. For storm information specific to your area in the United States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside the United States, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.

RAINFALL: Dorian is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 8 inches in the Windward Islands from Martinique south to St. Vincent, including Barbados. Isolated maximum totals of 10 inches are possible across the northern Windward Islands. Rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected from the Grenadines, south to Grenada and across Dominica. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches with maximum totals of 6 inches are possible across Puerto Rico and St. Croix.

WIND: [TOP] Hurricane conditions are possible tonight and early Tuesday within the Hurricane Watch area. Tropical storm conditions are likely in the warning area by late today. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the tropical storm watch area in the Lesser Antilles tonight or Tuesday and in Puerto Rico on Wednesday.

SURF: [TOP] Swells generated by Dorian will begin affecting portions of the Lesser Antilles tonight and continue into Tuesday. These swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

At 500 PM AST (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Dorian was located by satellite and Martinique radar near latitude 12.7 North, longitude 58.8 West. Dorian is moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph (22 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue through Tuesday night, followed by a turn toward the northwest on Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Dorian is expected to move near the Windward Islands this evening and tonight and move into the eastern Caribbean Sea on Tuesday. Dorian is forecast to pass near or south of Puerto Rico on Wednesday and approach eastern Hispaniola Wednesday night.

Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next few days, and Dorian could be near hurricane strength when it passes through the northern Windward Islands on Tuesday, and it is expected to be a hurricane when it moves near Puerto Rico and eastern Hispaniola.

Satellite-derived surface wind data indicate that Dorian remains a compact tropical cyclone. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1002 mb (29.59 inches).

Dorian's convective pattern has waxed and waned this afternoon due
to intrusions of dry mid-level air while the upper-level outflow
pattern has continued to expand and become more symmetrical.
Although the inner-core convection has decreased recently, a recent
burst of strong convection with cloud tops colder than -80C has
redeveloped just north of the low-level center. The initial
intensity remains at 50 kt based on a an average of satellite
intensity estimates ranging from 45 kt to 61 kt from TAFB, SAB, and
UW-CIMSS SATCON and ADT. An Air Force Reserve reconnaissance
aircraft is scheduled to investigate Dorian by 0000 UTC this
evening, and will provide a better estimate of the cyclone's
intensity.

The initial motion is west-northwestward or 290/12 kt. There is no
significant change to the previous forecast track or reasoning. The
latest NHC model guidance remains in very agreement that Dorian will
move west-northwestward across the central Lesser Antilles tonight
and into the northeastern Caribbean Sea on Tuesday as the cyclone
moves around the edge of the Bermuda-Azores ridge located well to
the north. On Wednesday, Dorian should turn northwestward into a
small weakness in the ridge, allowing the tropical cyclone to pass
near or between western Puerto Rico and the eastern Dominican
Republic. By late Thursday and Friday, the ridge is forecast to
build back in as an upper-level trough lifts out to the north,
causing Dorian to turn back toward the west-northwest in the
vicinity of the central Bahamas. The new official forecast track is
just an extension of the previous one since the latest model
guidance, especially the consensus models, are tightly packed around
the previous track forecast.

The intensity forecast remains something of an enigma. The majority
of the environmental conditions support at least steady
strengthening, with the main hindrance being the very dry mid-level
air surrounding the cyclone and occasionally being entrained into
Dorian's inner-core region. The small but robust circulation should
continue mix out the brief dry air intrusions, but when an eyewall
will form is still uncertain. Given that Dorian will be moving into
the convective maximum period later tonight, the intensity forecast
still calls for Dorian be near hurricane strength when it passes
through the Windward Islands. Interaction with Hispaniola and
possibly Puerto Rico should result in some weakening in 72-96
hours, followed by restrengthening on days 4 and 5 when Dorian will
be moving over the very warm waters in the Bahamas in low shear
conditions. Most of the global models along with the statistical-
dynamical SHIPS and LGEM intensity models are now showing pronounced
strengthening while Dorian is moving near or through the Bahamas, so
the official forecast shows a significant change to the previous
one at 96 and 120 hours. However, confidence in the intensity
forecast at days 4 and 5 is very low given the uncertainty about how
much of Dorian's core will interact with Hispaniola.

Dorian's convective pattern has waxed and waned this afternoon due to intrusions of dry mid-level air while the upper-level outflow pattern has continued to expand and become more symmetrical. Although the inner-core convection has decreased recently, a recent burst of strong convection with cloud tops colder than -80C has redeveloped just north of the low-level center. The initial intensity remains at 50 kt based on a an average of satellite intensity estimates ranging from 45 kt to 61 kt from TAFB, SAB, and UW-CIMSS SATCON and ADT. An Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to investigate Dorian by 0000 UTC this evening, and will provide a better estimate of the cyclone's intensity.
The initial motion is west-northwestward or 290/12 kt. There is no significant change to the previous forecast track or reasoning. The latest NHC model guidance remains in very agreement that Dorian will move west-northwestward across the central Lesser Antilles tonight and into the northeastern Caribbean Sea on Tuesday as the cyclone moves around the edge of the Bermuda-Azores ridge located well to the north. On Wednesday, Dorian should turn northwestward into a small weakness in the ridge, allowing the tropical cyclone to pass near or between western Puerto Rico and the eastern Dominican Republic. By late Thursday and Friday, the ridge is forecast to build back in as an upper-level trough lifts out to the north, causing Dorian to turn back toward the west-northwest in the vicinity of the central Bahamas. The new official forecast track is just an extension of the previous one since the latest model guidance, especially the consensus models, are tightly packed around the previous track forecast.
The intensity forecast remains something of an enigma. The majority of the environmental conditions support at least steady strengthening, with the main hindrance being the very dry mid-level air surrounding the cyclone and occasionally being entrained into Dorian's inner-core region. The small but robust circulation should continue mix out the brief dry air intrusions, but when an eyewall will form is still uncertain. Given that Dorian will be moving into the convective maximum period later tonight, the intensity forecast still calls for Dorian be near hurricane strength when it passes through the Windward Islands. Interaction with Hispaniola and possibly Puerto Rico should result in some weakening in 72-96 hours, followed by restrengthening on days 4 and 5 when Dorian will be moving over the very warm waters in the Bahamas in low shear conditions. Most of the global models along with the statistical- dynamical SHIPS and LGEM intensity models are now showing pronounced strengthening while Dorian is moving near or through the Bahamas, so the official forecast shows a significant change to the previous one at 96 and 120 hours. However, confidence in the intensity forecast at days 4 and 5 is very low given the uncertainty about how much of Dorian's core will interact with Hispaniola.

Dorian's convective pattern has waxed and waned this afternoon due to intrusions of dry mid-level air while the upper-level outflow pattern has continued to expand and become more symmetrical. Although the inner-core convection has decreased recently, a recent burst of strong convection with cloud tops colder than -80C has redeveloped just north of the low-level center. The initial intensity remains at 50 kt based on a an average of satellite intensity estimates ranging from 45 kt to 61 kt from TAFB, SAB, and UW-CIMSS SATCON and ADT. An Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to investigate Dorian by 0000 UTC this evening, and will provide a better estimate of the cyclone's intensity.

The initial motion is west-northwestward or 290/12 kt. There is no significant change to the previous forecast track or reasoning. The latest NHC model guidance remains in very agreement that Dorian will move west-northwestward across the central Lesser Antilles tonight and into the northeastern Caribbean Sea on Tuesday as the cyclone moves around the edge of the Bermuda-Azores ridge located well to the north. On Wednesday, Dorian should turn northwestward into a small weakness in the ridge, allowing the tropical cyclone to pass near or between western Puerto Rico and the eastern Dominican Republic. By late Thursday and Friday, the ridge is forecast to build back in as an upper-level trough lifts out to the north, causing Dorian to turn back toward the west-northwest in the vicinity of the central Bahamas. The new official forecast track is just an extension of the previous one since the latest model guidance, especially the consensus models, are tightly packed around the previous track forecast.

The intensity forecast remains something of an enigma. The majority of the environmental conditions support at least steady strengthening, with the main hindrance being the very dry mid-level air surrounding the cyclone and occasionally being entrained into Dorian's inner-core region. The small but robust circulation should continue mix out the brief dry air intrusions, but when an eyewall will form is still uncertain. Given that Dorian will be moving into the convective maximum period later tonight, the intensity forecast still calls for Dorian be near hurricane strength when it passes through the Windward Islands. Interaction with Hispaniola and possibly Puerto Rico should result in some weakening in 72-96 hours, followed by restrengthening on days 4 and 5 when Dorian will be moving over the very warm waters in the Bahamas in low shear conditions. Most of the global models along with the statistical- dynamical SHIPS and LGEM intensity models are now showing pronounced strengthening while Dorian is moving near or through the Bahamas, so the official forecast shows a significant change to the previous one at 96 and 120 hours. However, confidence in the intensity forecast at days 4 and 5 is very low given the uncertainty about how much of Dorian's core will interact with Hispaniola.

An Air Force Reserve Unit Hurricane Hunter aircraft has been investigating Dorian this evening. Data from the plane indicate that the storm is not quite as strong as previously estimated, and based on flight-level winds and SFMR-observed surface winds the intensity is set at 45 kt. Fixes from the aircraft show that the center of the cyclone moved just south of the southern coast of Barbados within the last couple of hours, and tropical-storm-force winds were reported over that island. There is fairly well-defined upper-level outflow over the eastern semicircle of the circulation. Although some dry mid-level air is likely to continue to affect Dorian while it moves over the northeastern Caribbean, the dynamical guidance indicates that the shear will not become very strong. Therefore it is still expected that the cyclone will become a hurricane in a couple of days. Some disruption of the system will likely occur when the center moves near eastern Hispaniola. The official intensity forecast is on the high end of the model guidance and is subject to considerable uncertainty, particularly from days 3 to 5.

Dorian continues to move west-northwestward, or 290/11 kt, while being steered by the flow on the south side of the subtropical ridge. In a day or two, the tropical cyclone is expected to turn northwestward due to a weakness in the ridge. The ridge is expected to build somewhat later in the forecast period, which should cause Dorian to turn slightly to the left. The ECMWF model is near the northern side of the guidance suite and the UKMET is near the southern side. The GFS model continues to practically dissipate the system so it was unable to generate a forecast track. The official track forecast was shifted a bit to the north, but lies south of the latest dynamical model consensus. It is advisable that one not focus on small changes in the forecast track due to uncertainties.