Tropical storm warnings have been issued for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as Tropical Storm Karen continues to move slowly northwestward across the southeastern Caribbean Sea.
Characterizing Karen – the season’s 11th named storm -- as "disorganized" early Monday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says the storm is around 180 miles (290 kilometers) west of St. Vincent and around 290 miles (465 kilometers) south-southeast of St. Croix, with top sustained winds of 40 mph. It's moving northwest at 8 mph (13 kph).
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Karen has a very uncertain future, according to Jeff Huffman, meteorologist with the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network.
“Keep in mind that Karen is highly disorganized this morning, and with all the unknown variables ahead of it, it’s just far too to speculate what may happen after it moves north of Puerto Rico,” Huffman said. It could enter an environment more favorable for intensification, but the steering currents are honestly all over the place.”
A tropical storm watch is in effect for the British Virgin Islands.
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Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Jerry is expected to pass near Bermuda on Tuesday night.
Elsewhere in the tropics, Tropical Storm Jerry is also disorganized this morning over the central Atlantic, where it could brush by Bermuda Tuesday night or Wednesday. And newly formed Tropical Depression Thirteen has just emerged off the west coast of Africa, where it’s expected to become a tropical storm later today. Neither of these systems is a threat to the United States, Huffman said.
Information from the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network contributed to this report.
