Tropical Storm Laura
As of Sunday at 11 a.m., Tropical Storm Laura is about 70 miles northwest of Port Au Prince, Haitai. Maximum sustained winds were near 50 mph.
The strongest winds are primarily occurring over the water to the northeast of the center.
[RELATED: Forecast cone, updates for Hurricane Marco]
Laura is moving toward the west-northwest near 21 mph, and this general motion is expected over the next few days, forecasters said.
The center of Laura will move near or over Cuba Sunday and Monday and over the south-eastern Gulf of Mexico on Monday night and Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
If Laura takes the western route and spends more time over water, it may the opportunity to reach major hurricane status. Conditions are ideal for development in the Gulf into the middle of next week. pic.twitter.com/O2qOvXtQzk
— Jonathan Kegges (@JonathanKegges) August 23, 2020
[BATTLING GULF STORMS: What could happen if they get close together?]
According to the NHC’s 5 a.m. advisory, a tropical storm warning is in effect for the northern Gulf Coast of the Dominican Republic, the southern coast of the Dominican Republic, the northern coast of Haiti, the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos islands.
A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning, in this case within the next 12 to 24 hours.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for the central Bahamas and Florida Keys. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours.
[READ MORE: Laura Producing Heavy Rains Over The Dominican Republic]