Tropical Storm Kirk strengthens with winds at 60 mph, heads toward Caribbean islands

Cheryl McCloud and Jennifer Sangalang Florida Today

Published 2:05 PM EDT Sep 26, 2018

**This story contains the path and predicted track of Kirk, according to the National Hurricane Center. Check back for updates.**

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2 p.m. Sept. 26 update:

Tropical Storm Kirk strengthened, but there was little change in strength expected through Thursday.

• Location: 305 miles east of Barbados, 430 miles east-southeast of Martinique

• Maximum sustained winds: 60 mph

• Movement: west at 18 mph

At 2 a.m, the center of Tropical Storm Kirk was moving west near 18 mph, and a west to west-northwest motion was expected over the next few days.

Can't see the map? Click on this link from the National Hurricane Center

Track the storm: Spaghetti models and hurricane forecast info

A tropical storm warning is in effect for:

• Barbados

• St. Lucia

• Dominica

• Martinique

• Guadeloupe

A tropical storm watch is in effect for:

• St. Vincent and the Grenadines

On the forecast track, Kirk will move over the Lesser Antilles within the tropical storm warning area Thursday night.

Reports from an Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast until Kirk crosses the Lesser Antilles, followed by weakening over the eastern Caribbean Sea.

8 a.m. Sept. 26 update:

Tropical Storm Kirk is heading for the northern Windward Islands with winds at 45 mph.

• Location: 535 miles east-southeast of Martinque

• Maximum sustained winds: 45 mph

• Movement: west at 18 mph

At 8 a.m, the center of Tropical Storm Kirk was located 535 miles east-southeast of Martinque.

Where is Kirk going next?

Kirk is moving toward the west near 18 mph. A west to west-northwest motion is expected through Friday night.

On the forecast track, Kirk is expected to approach Barbados and the northern Windward Islands Thursday afternoon and move into the eastern Caribbean Sea by Friday morning.

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph, with higher gusts.

Little change in strength is forecast until Kirk moves through the central Lesser Antilles Thursday afternoon and evening.

Rapid weakening is expected on Friday after Kirk moves over the eastern Caribbean Sea.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from the center.

Original story:

Kirk has restrengthened into a tropical storm, and tropical storm warnings and watches have been issued for portions of the Lesser Antilles.

Kirk returned as a tropical storm two days after the National Hurricane Center reported the storm had dissipated.

• Location: 595 miles east-southeast of Martinique

• Maximum sustained winds: 45 mph

• Movement: west at 18 mph

At 5 a.m., the center of Tropical Storm Kirk was located 595 miles east-southeast of Martinique.

Track the storm: Tropical Storm Kirk's path and predicted track

More: Hurricane classifications: What are the 5 hurricane categories?

There are no current threats to Florida from Kirk at the present time, according to the National Weather Service.

Where is Kirk going next?

Kirk is moving toward the west near 18 mph. A westward to west-northwestward motion is expected through Friday night.

On the forecast track, Kirk is expected to approach Barbados and the northern Windward Islands Thursday afternoon and move into the eastern Caribbean Sea by Friday morning.

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph, with higher gusts.

Little change in strength is forecast until Kirk moves through the central Lesser Antilles Thursday afternoon and evening.

Rapid weakening is expected on Friday after Kirk emerges over the Caribbean Sea.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from the center.

Watches/warnings

A tropical storm warning is in effect for:

• Barbados

• St. Lucia

A tropical storm Watch is in effect for:

• St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Hazards affecting land from Kirk

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

Rainfall: Kirk is expected to produce total rainfall totals of 4 to 6 inches with maximum totals of 10 across the northern Windward and southern Leeward Islands from Barbados and St. Lucia northward across Martinique, Dominica, and Guadeloupe. These rains may produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

Check back for updates.

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