Tropical Storm Dolly to Bring Heavy Rain to the Caribbean

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Tropical Storm Dolly formed in the central tropical Atlantic on Thursday morning and could bring heavy rainfall to parts of the Caribbean this weekend.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) in its 5:00pm (local time) update said. The center of Tropical Storm Dolly was located near latitude 13.7 North, longitude 40.7 West. 

Dolly – the fourth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, is moving toward the west near 24 mph (39 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days.  

On the forecast track, this system should be nearing the Leeward Islands this weekend. 

Maximum sustained winds remain near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. 

Little change in strength is likely during the next 48 hours, and Dolly is forecast to degenerate into a tropical wave before it reaches the Leeward Islands.

 Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1007 mb (29.74 inches).

According to the NHC, heavy rain from Dolly could affect the Leeward Islands late Saturday into Sunday, with rainfall moving into the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola Sunday and Monday.  

This heavy rain may produce flash flooding, especially in areas of higher terrain of the Leeward Islands.

Dolly formed two days after the death of country music icon Dolly Parton. However, the storm’s name was already included on the predetermined list for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.