August 20, 2020
By: Staff Report
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – The 5PM update from the National Hurricane Center states that Tropical Depression 13 has not strengthened. A tropical storm watch was issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands however.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
- Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- British Virgin Islands
- Saba and St. Eustatius
- St. Maarten
- St. Martin and St. Barthelemy
- Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Anguilla
The center of Tropical Depression Thirteen was located near latitude 16.7 North, longitude 53.9 West. The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 21 mph (33 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue for the next few days. On the forecast track, the depression is expected to move near or north of the northern Leeward Islands by late Friday, near or north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Saturday, and near or north
of Hispaniola Saturday night.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts.
Gradual strengthening is forecast, and the depression is forecast to become a tropical storm on Friday.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1008 mb (29.77 inches)