Jerry Strengthens as it Targets the Caribbean

As predicted earlier in the week, Tropical Storm Jerry is gaining strength as it barrels toward the northeastern Caribbean. Read on for the latest information about this storm, as well as a look at what is happening elsewhere in the tropical Atlantic.

Jerry Forecast to Strengthen as it Nears the Caribbean

Tropical Storm Jerry is picking up steam as it inches closer to the Caribbean. As of the Thursday evening update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Jerry was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 mph as it raced to the west-northwest at a fast speed of 18 mph. Forecasters are growing more certain that Jerry will evolve into a hurricane shortly. The intensification is likely to happen as the storm action currently located on the southern side of the feature becomes better organized.

Jerry is expected to usher in flooding rainfall, gusty winds, and rough seas to the northeastern Caribbean over the next few days before taking a turn to the north. While the storm is not forecast to impact the U.S. or Bermuda, the Azores could be in the line of fire by next week.

The latest forecast models take Jerry's center within a few dozen miles of a number of islands in the Caribbean, including Barbuda, Montserrat, Antigua, Guadelupe, Anguilla, and St. Martin. The core of Jerry will be the closest to the Leeward Island by early Friday before moving to the northern edge of the Windward Island to the south. To the east, Jerry is expected to track into the Leewards, in addition to the British and U.S. Virgin Islands.