Tropical depression expected to bring heavy showers over the weekend

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Friday August 10, 2012 - Depression continues to move quickly westward according to the latest National Hurricane Center advisory.

As of 11 a.m. eastern time Tropical Depression Seven was located at 13.7 N 49.5 W or 775 miles east of the Windward Islands and is moving west at 23 miles per hour the NHC said.

The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center also indicates that "the maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts."

"Interests in the Windward and Leeward Islands should closely monitor the progress of this system as tropical storm watches or warnings could be required at any time" the NHC report said.

The estimated minimum central pressure for the system has dropped to 1009 mb.

The Barbados met office issued a special bulletin indicating that "the center of the system is expected to pass just to the north of Barbados late Saturday, early Sunday."

"Regardless of its development this system still has the potential to generate significant showers, scattered thunderstorms and occasional gusty winds across Barbados" the met office said.

According to Philip J. Klotzbach and William M. Gray of the Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane season is expected to see about 13 named storms, including 5 hurricanes, with two of them being major. Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)