Tropical Storm Lisa could form later today in Caribbean

Tropical Storm Lisa could form later today in Caribbean

The National Hurricane Center is tracking a new storm in the Caribbean on Sunday: Potential Tropical Cyclone 15.

The disturbance isn’t quite organized enough to be a tropical storm just yet, but it is expected to strengthen and be named Tropical Storm Lisa — possibly as soon as tonight.

The hurricane center’s forecast track shows the storm strengthening to a hurricane by Tuesday night and taking a path toward Central America. Belize looks to be in the bullseye for landfall, according to forecasters.

The storm is not expected to threaten the United States.

The system could bring heavy rain to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands in the next few days, which is why the hurricane center began issuing advisories on it.

The hurricane center designates storms as “potential tropical cyclones” when they are not organized enough to be considered a tropical depression or storm but could bring those same conditions to land areas.

As of 4 p.m. CDT Sunday, Potential Tropical Cyclone 15 was located about 265 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and was tracking to the west-northwest at 10 mph.

The system had sustained winds of 40 mph, the hurricane center said, which is tropical storm strength. The hurricane center’s forecast shows the storm peaking as a Category 1 hurricane in the next few days with top winds of 80 mph.

A tropical storm watch has been issued for Jamaica and Grand Cayman Island. Forecasters said tropical storm conditions will be possible in Jamaica beginning late Monday and on Grand Cayman Island on Tuesday.

The storm could bring 1 to 2 inches of rain to parts of Jamaica, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Honduras, Nicaragua and Belize.