Tropical Storm Chantal Hits Caribbean, Races Towards Florida [UPDATE]

Tropical Storm Chantal is strengthening and racing up toward the Lesser Antilles after forming in the Atlantic. The storm is expected to strengthen and move northwards.

A tropical storm warning has been issued for Puerto Rico, Barbados, Dominica, St. Lucia, Martinique and Guadeloupe. There is also a tropical storm watch is in effect for the U.S. Virgin Islands and parts of the Dominican Republic.

Chantal is expected to reach the Lesser Antilles late Monday, move into the eastern Caribbean sea later on Tuesday, and be near the Dominican Republic on Wednesday.

The storm will be watched for potential impact on the Southeast U.S. late this week, continuing into early next week.

The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Chantal's maximum sustained winds as of late afternoon Monday are currently around 60 mph.

The storm is most concentrated about 390 miles east-southeast of Barbados. It's currently moving west -northwest at 26 mph.

Chantal may encounter disruptive winds that could lead to weakening by midweek, around the time the storm hits ground on eastern Cuba and Hispaniola.

Still, Chantal may cause thunderstorms, high wind, and rain across the Florida Peninsula.

Around midday Wednesday, Chantal will pass over or near Hispaniola, which has high mountain ranges that have historically slowed down tropical cyclones. However, because Chantal is moving forward rapidly, it may not spend long over the island.

Another current danger is  Tropical Storm Erick, which is moving parallel to the southern portion of Mexico.

In Mexico's Baja California peninsula, a tropical storm warning is also currently in effect for Tropical Storm Erick.