Invest 98L was upgraded to Tropical Storm Ophelia on Tuesday (20) night and it is more organised than it was expected to get. Forecasts are predicting that Ophelia will remain as a tropical storm tonight before weakening into a tropical wave over the weekend. Ophelia is tracking to the west with maximum sustained winds of 50kts or 60mph. Models show that Ophelia is expected to shift to the north, only affecting the Leeward Islands as opposed to both the Windward and Leeward Islands, as discussed in yesterday’s paper (21).

Rob Lightbown writes, “The global model guidance are trending towards a track that takes Ophelia very near or perhaps even north of the islands of the northeastern Caribbean late this weekend as a ridge of high pressure weakens a little and a large storm system develops over the eastern United States.”

The Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, are expected to see heavy rainfall and tropical storm force winds starting in the Leeward Islands today through to Sunday.

Go to Crown Weather Services at www.crownweather.com or to the National Hurricane Centre at www.nhc.noaa.gov/ for more information on Ophelia. iNews wishes to thank Crown Weather for their permission to use their graphics and information. Please support them.