Tropical storm forms near Barbados

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Meteorological Service is reporting that Chantal, the third tropical storm for the season has been formed in the Atlantic.

It says at 4:00 a.m. the centre of Tropical Storm Chantal was located near Latitude 10.4 degrees north and Longitude 49.5 degrees west or about 1,130 kilometres east-southeast of Barbados.

Chantal is moving toward the west near 43 kilometres per hour.

The west-northwestward motion at similar speed is expected over the next couple of days.

On the forecast track, the centre of Chantal should approach the Lesser Antilles late tonight or early Tuesday and move into the eastern Caribbean Sea late on Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 kilometres per hour with higher gusts.

Some increase in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours.