Tropical Storm Dean is Born

Tropical Storm Dean has just formed within the past few hours and is now centered east of the Windward Islands with maximum winds of 40 mph. Dean is expected to follow a westerly track before heading more NNW towards the island of Puerto Rico later in the period, as the first hurricane of the tropical season.

Here is the statement from the NHC:

"...DEAN FORMS IN THE DEEP TROPICS...MIDWAY BETWEEN AFRICA AND THELESSER ANTILLES...

INTERESTS IN THE LESSER ANTILLES SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OFDEAN. AT 1100 AM AST...1500Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM DEAN WASLOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 11.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 39.4 WEST OR ABOUT 1030MILES...1660 KM...WEST OF THE SOUTHERNMOST CAPE VERDE ISLANDS ANDABOUT 1490 MILES...2400 KM...EAST OF THE LESSER ANTILLES.

DEAN IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 23 MPH...37 KM/HR...AND THISMOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH...65 KM/HR...WITH HIGHERGUSTS. SOME GRADUAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24HOURS.TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 35 MILES...55 KMMAINLY TO THE NORTH OF THE CENTER.ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1004 MB...29.65 INCHES.REPEATING THE 1100 AM AST POSITION...11.7 N...39.4 W. MOVEMENTTOWARD...WEST NEAR 23 MPH.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH.MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1004 MB.THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT500 PM AST.

Next post later on.