Fred is moving between eastern Cuba and the South eastern Bahamas, heavy rains continue across portions of Hispaniola.
Effective 6 am edt, the all clear was given for the Turks and Caicos islands as the tropical storm watch for those islands has been discontinued.
A tropical watch remains in effect for the islands of the southeast Bahamas. This includes the islands of Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, crooked islands, Samana cay, long cay and ragged island.
A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions could be experienced in the mentioned islands within 48 hours.
At 8 am edt, the center of tropical depression Fred was located near latitude 20.7 degrees north and longitude 74.2 degrees west, or about 40 miles west-southwest of Matthew town Inagua, or 80 miles northeast of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and 372 miles south-southeast of New Providence.
The center of depression Fred is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph and this motion with a decrease in forward speed is expected for the next couple of days, followed by a turn to the northwest. On the forecast track, Fred is expected to move across the southeast Bahamas today, move along or just north of eastern and central Cuba later today and Friday, and be near the Florida keys and south Florida on Saturday.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 35 mph with higher gusts. Little change, in strength is forecast today, but slow strengthening is expected Friday and this weekend.
Residents in the southeast Bahamas could experience showers and thunderstorms, which would be severe at times, with gusty winds today as the tropical depression pass across the area. Residents in low-lying areas should also prepare for heavy rainfall of 1 to 3 inches with isolated amounts of 5 inches.
Issued by: Anastashia Fernander