The Tribune

HEAVY rain is expected to affect the south and central Bahamas through Wednesday as former tropical storm Dorian continues on its northwest path this week.

After losing its tropical storm status on Saturday, Dorian, which is now a disorganised tropical rainstorm racing westward through the southern Atlantic is expected to regain some of its strength over the next few days.

According to AccuWeather.com meteorologists, Dorian returning to tropical storm status would raise the alarm for widespread flooding, damaging winds and dangerous surf to the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and South Florida.

Even if such restrengthening fails to occur, Dorian will not pass unnoticed, the meteorologists said.

Currently, it is expected that a handful of heavy showers and thunderstorms will continue to graze the northernmost Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico through Monday as Dorian and the majority of its storminess pass by to the north.

More numerous drenching and gusty showers and thunderstorms from Dorian may graze Hispaniola and will spread in a southeast-to-northwest fashion across the Turks and Caicos Islands, southern and central Bahamas and eastern Cuba Monday through Wednesday.

Localised flash flooding is a concern, as well as minor tree damage and power outages.

The danger of rough surf will also shift from east to west from the Leeward Islands to the Bahamas through Wednesday.

More adverse impacts could be likely if Dorian regains its former tropical storm status.