Tropical Storm Erika Threatens Caribbean's Leeward Islands

AccuWeather.com is reporting that Tropical Storm Erika could hit the Caribbean by the middle of the week. // Photo courtesy of AccuWeather.com

AccuWeather.com is reporting that Tropical Storm Erika formed on Monday night and will track toward the Leeward Islands through the middle of the week.

As Tropical Rainstorm Danny tracks across the northern Caribbean islands, Erika will take a track slightly farther north and will bring another round of rainfall.

According to AccuWeather, this system will be steered westward by a large dome of high pressure across the Atlantic during much of this week.

"This high is expected to guide Erika on a west-northwest course through Thursday," said AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski. 

Erika is currently located well east of the Leeward Islands, but will be getting closer over the next two days.

"Erika will be moving through an environment with warm waters and generally low wind shear," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Robert Richards.

Tropical systems are most likely to strengthen in areas of weak wind shear. If wind shear is too strong, the system becomes disorganized and weakens.

"All interests in the northeast Caribbean, The Bahamas, Florida and the Southeast United States should closely monitor the progression of this system," Kottlowski said.

Air Travel Update

Meanwhile, Seaborne Airlines on Wednesday morning issued its storm policy for customers who may be impacted by Tropical storm Erika.

Tropical storm Erika is expected to affect travel to, from and through the Caribbean in the coming days. 

According to the airline’s policy, “If your flight is cancelled or significantly delayed, you are entitled to a refund. Even if your flight is not cancelled, you may make a one-time change to your ticket without any change fees if you are scheduled to travel as follows.”

This applies to all ticketed passengers to and from Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten, Anguilla, Guadeloupe, St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Thomas Seaplane Base, St. Croix Seaplane Base, Tortola and San Juan, according to the policy. This applies to all passengers with flights from now through Friday and for passengers whose ticket was issued no later than August 25. 

Visit www.seaborneairlines.com and keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for more updates on this story.