Chantal Weakens on Approach to DR and Haiti

HAVANA TIMES — Tropical Storm Chantal weakened over night as it moves swiftly towards a landing on Wednesday on Hispaniola Island (Dominican Republic/Haiti), reported the Cuban Weather Service (INSMET)

At 8:00 a.m. EST the storm packed 45 mph (75 kph) winds, said the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

While the projection cone shows a weakened Chantal reaching the Cuban coast in eastern Guantanamo by early Thursday, it is difficult to predict how much it will weaken further after coming into contact with land in the DR and Haiti.

The path of tropical strom Chantal at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday from the National Hurricane Center.

Rainfall of 3 to 6 inches is expected in the DR and Haiti, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos, and the southeastern Bahamas.

According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, a sea surge of 1 to 2 feet is expected on the coasts of the RD and Haiti, the Turk and Caicos Islands and the southeast Bahamas.