Tropical Storm Grace strengthens, could cause flooding in Haiti following earthquake

The National Hurricane Center said Friday that tropical depression seven formed in the Atlantic. The system is likely to become Tropical Storm Grace by Saturday as it moves through the Caribbean.

Posted 9:10 p.m. Aug 13, 2021 — Updated 5:55 p.m. Aug 15, 2021

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Friday that tropical depression seven has formed in the Atlantic. The system became Tropical Storm Grace on Saturday as it moved through the Caribbean.

The system, which is moving north at 18 miles per hour, is about 90 miles south-southwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, with sustained winds of 40 miles per hour as of 11 a.m. Sunday. Grace is bringing lots of rain to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on Sunday as hurricane hunters investigate the storm.

Grace is also expected to bring 4 to 7 inches of rainfall to the Dominican Republic and Haiti, which experienced a powerful earthquake on Saturday where hundreds of lives were lost. Flash flooding and mudslides possible Monday and Tuesday.

Grace is expected to bring 4 to 7 inches of rainfall to the Dominican Republic and Hati. Flash flooding and mudslides possible Mon. & Tue.

The NHC said tropical storm conditions from the system are expected in portions of the Leeward Islands on late Saturday or early Sunday. Then, tropical storm conditions are possible over portions of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Sunday.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and part of the Dominican Republic.

The projected path for Tropical Storm Grace.

Parts of Florida are currently in the forecast track for the system.

The system is initially like to follow in the footsteps of Fred, according to WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell, but as the system gets toward the end of its track, it could turn more north.