As expected, Tropical Depression 7 strengthened into Tropical Storm Fiona, and the storm is headed towards the Leeward Islands. Tropical storm warnings are up for Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Guadeloupe, St. Barthelemy, and St. Martin.
The storm has maximum winds of 50 miles per hour, but forecasters aren't predicting a hurricane at this time.
"Moderate westerly shear continues to displace Fiona's deep convection about a degree to the east of the low-level center," said National Hurricane Center Senior Hurricane Specialist Robbie Berg. "Moderate shear, generally out of the west, is expected to continue for much of the forecast period. That in itself should suppress significant strengthening."
The hurricane center says that doesn't mean there won't be any strengthening at all. The intensity forecast predicts top winds of 70 miles per hour five days from now.
