Tropical storm Kate is maintaining its strength while moving toward the Northwestern Bahamas. Some strengthening is expected during the next few days.
As of Monday afternoon, the storm has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph with higher gusts and is moving northwest at 15 mph.
A turn toward the north is expected tonight, followed by a turn toward the north-northeast on Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Kate is forecast to stay well offshore as it parallels the southeast coast over the next few days.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles north of the center.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the central Bahamas, and northwest Bahamas.
The storm is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 1 to 3 inches over the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas through tonight.
