Met Office: Tropical Storm Ernesto 'should not threaten Trinidad and Tobago'

THE Meteorological Service is monitoring Tropical Storm Ernesto, which is passing through the Lesser Antilles.

The system should not directly affect Trinidad and Tobago on its current track, the service said in a statement issued at 8.15 am on August 13.

There are no watches or warnings in effect for Trinidad and Tobago.

However, a yellow-level adverse weather alert is in effect until 5 pm.

At 10.19 am, the service forecast cloudy conditions with occasional rain over various areas this afternoon and tonight, with a 40 per cent (medium) chance of a few heavy showers or thunderstorms.

It said conditions are expected to become more settled by the evening and night.

A partly cloudy night is forecast with a few showers and a 20 per cent (low) chance of an isolated heavy shower or thunderstorm.

The Met Office advised that gusty winds and street/flash flooding may occur in or near heavy showers or thunderstorms and that seas may become "agitated associated with the southerly wind regime.

"All marine interests are advised to exercise extreme caution."

Tropical storm warnings related to the passage of Ernesto are in effect in Guadeloupe, St Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, St Barts, St Martin and Saint Maarten.

Ernesto developed into a storm on the night of August 12.

The service said the warning means tropical storm conditions are expected "somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours."

At 8 am, Ernesto’s centre was near 16.6N latitude and 61.9W longitude, approximately 152km southeast of Antigua. The system is moving towards the west at 30km/h and this motion is expected to decrease during the next couple of days.

"On this forecast track, Ernesto is expected to continue moving across portions of the Leeward Islands later today (August 13)."

The Met Office said it will issue an update on Topical Storm Ernesto at 8 pm or earlier if the situation warrants.