Tomas Moves into Caribbean

October will end on a busy tropical note with a strengthening tropical systemin the Caribbean. Hurricane Tomas will spread heavy rain and gusty winds tohurricane force across the Windward Islands Saturday into Saturday night.The waters to the west of the islands remain very warm and conducive to furtherstrengthening. This in conjunction with light wind shear and moderately moistair will make for ripe conditions for development. Tomas will approach majorhurricane status early next week as it remains south of Puerto Rico andHispaniola.

Weather models have a variety of solutions toward the middle of next week asthe jet stream tries to slip south along the east coast of the U.S. Some modelsshow Tomas bending northwest as it feels the influence of the stronger wind,while others have the system by pass it, keeping it on a westerly course.

Regardless, Tomas will be a powerful hurricane slowly churning through thecentral Caribbean and will bear watching into late week.