A tropical disturbance currently near Puerto Rico is expected to continue traveling west-northwestward and impact the island of Hispaniola today and tonight. Heavy rain, gusty winds, flooding and landslides may become problems in both of these islands. While the center of this disturbance is over land, development may be slow to occur, especially today, as it encounters the mountainous island of Hispaniola. However, conditions are favorable (low wind shear, warm ocean temperatures, plenty of moisture) for rapid development when and if this tropical system moves away from land.

Once away from Hispaniola, this system will probably quickly increase in strength to become Tropical Storm Fay, going from a depression to a tropical storm in mere hours. Also, its track will turn to the northwest, and its forward speed will slow. The southeastern Bahamas will begin to feel its effects Saturday morning. Again, the center of this system may be centered over land at times Saturday, this time the Bahamas. However, the Bahamas are not as large or as mountainous as Hispaniola, so their effects on this storm will not be nearly as strong, and intensification may occur.