Tropical Storm Dolly moving quickly west across Atlantic

Tropical Storm Dolly is moving quickly westward across the Atlantic, but is not currently expected to remain a tropical storm by the time it reaches the Leeward Islands.

The National Hurricane Center says Dolly is located about 2,290 kilometres east of the Leeward Islands as of 5 p.m. Thursday.

The storm has maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h with higher gusts and is moving west at about 39 km/h.

Forecasters expect that westward motion to continue over the next couple of days, with Dolly nearing the Leeward Islands this weekend.

Little change in strength is expected over the next 48 hours. The National Hurricane Center forecasts Dolly to weaken into a tropical wave before reaching the islands.

Despite the expected weakening, heavy rain associated with the system could affect the Leeward Islands late Saturday into Sunday. Rain could then spread into the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola Sunday and Monday.

The National Hurricane Center says the rainfall could produce flash flooding, particularly in higher-terrain areas of the Leeward Islands.

For Atlantic Canada, there is no indication in the current advisory that Dolly poses any threat to Newfoundland and Labrador.