Kirk regenerates into a tropical storm, heading toward northern Windward Islands

Kirk has regenerated into a tropical storm at 09:00 UTC on Wednesday, September 26, 2018, prompting authorities to issue tropical storm warnings and watches for portions of the Lesser Antilles. Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, Martinique and Guadeloupe. Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Interests elsewhere in the central and northern Lesser Antilles should monitor the progress of Kirk as additional warnings or watches could be issued later today.

At 15:00 UTC (11:00 AST), the center of Tropical Storm "Kirk" was located about 575 km (360 miles) ESE of Barbados and 780 km (485 miles) ESE of Martinique. It had maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h (50 mph) and was moving W at 30 km/h (18 mph). Miniumum central pressure was 1 002 hPa. 

A westward to west-northwestward motion is expected over the next few days.

On the forecast track, the center will move over the Lesser Antilles within the Tropical Storm Warning area Thursday night, September 27 (AST).

Little change in strength is forecast until Kirk crosses the Lesser Antilles, followed by weakening over the eastern Caribbean Sea.

Tropical storm conditions are expected to first reach the warning area by Thursday afternoon, September 27, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous, NHC said. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area by Thursday afternoon or evening.

Tropical Storm "Kirk" at 15:00 UTC on September 26, 2018. Credit: NOAA/GOES-East

Kirk is expected to produce total rainfall totals of 101.6 – 152.4 mm (4 to 6 inches) with maximum totals up to 254 mm (10 inches) across the northern Windward and southern Leeward Islands from Barbados and St. Lucia northward across Martinique and Dominica.

These rains may produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

Featured image: Tropical Storm "Kirk" at 15:00 UTC on September 26, 2018. Credit: NOAA/GOES-East