Tropical Storm Kirk, Hurricane Rosa Are Strengthening: NHC

Top video: Hurricane Florence seen from International Space Station

Tropical Storm Kirk is slated to approach the Lesser Antilles on Sep. 27, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) in its 5 p.m. update.

The storm is about 260 miles east of Barbados and 380 miles from Martinique. It has winds of 60 mph. A Category 1 hurricane has minimum winds of 75 mph.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, Martinique, and Guadeloupe, while a tropical storm watch is in effect for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Tropical Storm Kirk is slated to approach the Lesser Antilles on Sep. 27, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in its 5 p.m. update. (NHC)NHC

“Kirk is moving toward the west-northwest near 18 mph (30 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue over the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of Kirk will move over the Lesser Antilles within the Tropical Storm Warning area Thursday afternoon,” the NHC said.

The storm is expected to stay at around the same strength before weakening after it crosses over the Lower Antilles.

In its discussion of the storm, the agency said Kirk “is predicted to dissipate due to the strong shear over the Caribbean Sea in about 5 days, and several of the reliable global models show this occurring even sooner.”

Hurricane Rosa

Meanwhile, in the eastern Pacific Ocean, Hurricane Rosa is continuing to intensify as it churns hundreds of miles off the western coast of Mexico, the NHC said at 3 p.m.

The storm is 545 miles west-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, and around 465 south-southwest of Baja California.

Meanwhile, in the eastern Pacific Ocean, Hurricane Rosa is continuing to intensify as it churns hundreds of miles off the western coast of Mexico. NHC

The storm has 80 mph winds and is moving 10 mph to the west-northwest, the agency said, adding that “this general motion is forecast to continue through Friday,” Sept. 28.

“Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 80 mph (130 km/h) with higher gusts, and rapid strengthening is forecast to continue through tonight. Afterward, further strengthening is expected at a slower rate Thursday and Friday,” the NHC said.

There are no coastal warnings for the storm.

The Weather Channel said that Rosa “will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions for portions of the southwestern Mexican coast and the southern Baja California Peninsula.”

The southwestern United States could be hit by the remnants of Rosa next week.