Tropical Storm Irene moves into northeastern Caribbean, could threaten Florida

Tropical Storm Irene is moving into the northeastern Caribbean Sea and is about 35 miles west-northwest of Guadeloupe and 45 miles south-southwest of Antigua, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.

It is moving westward at 21 mph.

Irene may bring severe weather to South Florida by midweek, the National Weather Service reported.

“We’re watching it very closely. This is a good reminder that we are in the most active part of the hurricane season,” said Robert Molleda, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “”If you don’t already have your hurricane kits in place, this is definitely a good time to get stocked up with supplies.”

Earlier Sunday, Irene hit the northern Leeward islands with heavy rain.

Barbados has discontinued a tropical storm warning for Dominica, but a hurricane watch remains in effect for the southern coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano westward to the Haitian border.

A hurricane watch also remains in effect for Vieques and Culebra in Puerto Rico, while a tropical storm warning is in effect for Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Vieques and Culebra, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, St. Martin, St. Varthelemy, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands..

A tropical storm watch is in effect for Haiti.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles from the center, mainly to the north.

Wind and tropical storm conditions are expected in the Leeward Islands on Sunday. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin Sunday afternoon in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and in the Dominican Republic by Monday afternoon.

Hurricane conditions are possible over Puerto Rico on Sunday night and over the Dominican Republic by late Monday.

Irene is expected to bring rainfall of 4 to 7 inches in the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, with some areas receiving up to 10 inches. Rainll of 6 to 10 inches is possible across the Dominican Republic and Haiti, with some areas possibly receiving as much as 20 inches. The rain could bring life-threatening flash floods and mud slides in areas of steep terrain.

A storm surge threat also is possible, with water levels rising from 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels along the southern coast of the Dominican Republic. A storm surge of 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels is expected along the immediate coast in the tropical storm warning area. Along the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large, dangerous waves.

The Dominican Republic has issued a hurricane warning for the southern coast from Cabo Engano westward to the Haiti border. A tropical storm warning has been issued for the northern coast of the Dominican Republic from the Haiti border eastward to north of Caba Engano.

A hurricane watch has been issued for Vieques and Culebra in Puerto Rico. Hurricane conditions could affect Puerto Rico on Sunday night and Monday morning and are expected in the Dominican Republic on Monday afternoon and Monday night.

The disturbance had been a tropical wave but the National Weather Service upgraded it to a named storm about 7 p.m. Saturday.

“It was getting more energy faster than expected, and we found winds into the tropical storm criteria,” meteorologist Evelyn Rivera said.

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Harvey is about 60 miles east-southeast of Villahermosa, Mexico.

There also is a large, elongated low pressure system about 150 miles west of the northernmost Cape Verde Islands that is producing widespread clouds and scattered showers. The system has a low chance, 10 percent, of becoming a tropical cyclone in the next 48 hours as it continues to move northwestward over cooler waters. Heavy rain and gusty wind will gradually decrease over the northernmost Cape Verde Islands on Sunday.

stravis@stravis@tribune.com or 561-243-6637 or 954-425-1421