Post tropical Cyclone Leslie remains a powerful storm with hurricane force winds. It is a non tropical low pressure system sitting several hundred miles west of the Azores. Shower activity is organizing and Leslie will likely become a subtropical storm or tropical storm again today or Friday. The system will continue its west southwest track at 10 mph over the north-central Atlantic.

Tropical Storm Kirk has not changed much overnight and will move over the Lesser Antilles this evening with winds of 50 mph.

Tropical Storm watches and warnings have been posted for Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Tropical storm force winds extend outward to 140 miles, mainly north and east of the center. Tropical Storm Conditions will reach the islands this afternoon.

Rainfall totals of 4 to 6 inches are expected across parts of the Windward and Leeward Islands, with isolated 10″ totals. Life threatening flash flooding and mudslides are possible in these areas. Heading into Friday and Saturday, Puerto Rico will pick up 2 to 4 inches of rain, with isolated totals of 6″.

Strong wind shear is already impacting Kirk giving it the asymmetric cloud pattern. As Kirk moves into the eastern Caribbean it will encounter even stronger wind shear which will continue to rip the storm apart. The storm will likely dissipate over the next 3 to 4 days. But as always will continue to monitor the storm for any changes.

We are watching 4 areas in the Atlantic but none are a threat to land right now.

A broad area of low pressure with a disorganized area of showers and storms is still sitting south of Bermuda. It only has a low chance of development with dry air and wind shear in the vicinity. A non tropical low pressure system sits 1000 miles southwest of the Azores. It will remain fairly stationary for the next few days, with some strengthening forecast. It gets absorbed by a cold front early next week.

Midday Saturday the tropical wave off the coast of Africa organized into Tropical Storm Kirk. It poses no threat to land at the moment and its westward track will keep it over the water. The system may strengthen a little over the next couple of days as it moves through a relatively favorable environment. Kirk will pick up speed and head towards the Lesser Antilles late week. But just like Tropical Depression 11 it will struggle to hold together as it encounters strong wind shear in the eastern Caribbean.

Tropical Depression 11 will likely fizzle out by this evening. It has remained nearly stationary in an area of high wind shear. Early next week it may bring a few showers and gusty winds to the Lesser Antilles.