The Tribune

A TROPICAL STORM ALERT IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE ISLANDS OF INAGUA, MAYAGUANA, ACKLINS, CROOKED ISLAND AND RAGGED ISLAND.

A TROPICAL STORM ALERT MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS CAN POSSIBLY BE EXPERIENCED IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE ISLANDS OF INAGUA, MAYAGUANA, ACKLINS, CROOKED ISLAND AND RAGGED ISLAND WITHIN FORTY-EIGHT TO SIXTY HOURS.

AT 11:00 AM  EDT THE CENTRE OF TROPICAL STORM ERIKA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 16.1° DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 57.5 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT 886 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF GRAND TURK, 938 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF INAGUA AND 1,231 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEW PROVIDENCE. 

TROPICAL ERIKA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 17 MILES PER HOUR AND A WEST TO WEST-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 48 HOURS.  ON THIS TRACK, THE CENTRE OF ERIKA WILL MOVE NEAR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.  TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES PRIMARILY TO THE EAST OF THE CENTRE.

RESIDENTS IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE ISLANDS OF INAGUA, MAYAGUANA, ACKLINS, CROOKED ISLAND AND RAGGED ISLAND SHOULD BEGIN TO SECURE THEIR PROPERTIES FOR TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS AND POSSIBLE HURRICANE CONDITIONS.