Tropical storm Danny is expected to move over the Leeward Islands Sunday night or early on Monday, with 2 to 4 inches of rain expected, according to the latest from the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
To test your geography skills, the Leeward Islands are to the east of Puerto Rico. Directly below the leeward Islands is a group of islands called the Westward Islands. And to the west and like a foot extending out from the westward islands are the Leeward Antilles.
Computer models show Danny continuing to weaken as it continues to track northwest over the next five days, becoming a tropical depression. But forecasters warn that many things could happen, and very quickly, over that long a period of time and they will continue to monitor the storm, reports CNN.
Tropical storm warning in effect with much-needed rain in forecast
Tropical storm warnings are in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Anguilla. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for Puerto Rico, Vieques, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Saba and St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, and Culebra.
The hopes of the tropical storm bringing rains, and much-needed relief to a drought-stricken Puerto Rico may be dashed by the time Danny gets close to the U.S. territory. As Danny continues to weaken, the storm may end up being nothing more than a tropical depression by the time it reaches the island.
Fox News-Latino quoted Carlos Anselmi with the National Weather Service in San Juan as saying, “This storm has created a lot of expectations. But we cannot talk about how much rainfall is expected because the storm is quite small. There’s a lot of uncertainty still.”
Cuba is also struggling with a drought that has left reservoirs at 37 percent capacity and little water for irrigation on farms. There are fears of more water-rationing in major cities. Last week, Reuters reported that the country’s civil defense system said the drought, along with record heat and water leakage have led to “low levels of available water for the population, agriculture, industry and services.”
Nuris Lopez, a hairdresser in eastern Granma province told Reuters, “It is hard to believe, but many of us are hoping for a hurricane.” Right now, she has to rely on a tanker truck to bring water once a week. “I might lose my roof, but at least I could clean my house,” she said.
