At 2 p.m. today, the centre of Tropical Storm Gonzalo was located by a Reserve Hunter Aircraft of the Air Force near latitude 9.9 degrees north, longitude 54.8 degrees west or about 433 miles or 805 kilometres east southeast of Saint Lucia.

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph or 75 km/h, with higher gusts. Some strengthening is still possible during the next day or so before Gonzalo reaches the southern Windward Islands but Gonzalo is expected to weaken and dissipate by the middle of the next week.

Tropical Storm Gonzalo is moving towards the west near 18 mph or 30 km/h. A westward to west-northwestward motion is expected during the next few days. On this track the centre of Gonzalo is expected to pass over the Grenadines on Saturday.

Tropical Storm warning is in effect for Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados. Tropical storm watch is in effect for Tobago and Grenada and its dependencies.

Gonzalo is expected to produce total rain accumulations of two to five inches over Saint Lucia and the southern Windward Islands. Swells up to 10 feet or 3.0 metres generated by Tropical Storm Gonzalo will begin affecting portions of the Lesser Antilles by later tonight. Small craft operators around Saint Lucia and the southern Windward Islands are asked to exercise caution when venturing far from port.

The Saint Lucia Meteorological Services will continue to closely monitor the progress of this storm and another statement will be issued at 5 p.m.