At 200 PM AST (1800 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Erika was
located near latitude 16.5 North, longitude 63.8 West. Erika is
moving toward the west near 16 mph (26 km/h). A turn toward the
west-northwest is forecast later today, and this general motion
should continue for the next 48 hours. On the forecast track, the
center of Erika will move near the Virgin Islands later today,
move near or over Puerto Rico tonight, and move near or over the
Dominican Republic on Friday.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 45 mph (75 km/h) with
higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next
48 hours.