Storm Dorian intensified in the Atlantic Ocean as its whipping 60mph winds churned toward Caribbean islands on Monday evening. Barbados officially shutdown at 10am as Dorian gathered in strength, it is set to bring onslaughts of heavy wind and rain. Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley told islanders to avoid unnecessary risks while the storm was hitting.
Speaking on local radio she said: “Those who do not need to go on the road or do not work in areas that are essential, unless you are going to get a last-minute something to prepare yourself, there’s no sense in going on the road.”
Ms Mottley’s Government called for a near-total shutdown of the island.
It went back on its initial decision to be open for business until noon.
A Barbados Meteorological Services report also warned of flash flooding on the island.
Barbados was hit by scattered showers connected to Dorian on Monday morning.
Warnings are in place for heavy rainfall, powerful winds and huge surf onshore.
The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) claimed on Monday evening Dorian was about 60 miles (97 km) southeast of Barbados, blowing maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour (97 kph).
Islanders were stockpiling food and drink to batten down and prepare for Dorians arrival.
Residents piled into packed stores to buy everything from pain relievers and batteries to bottled water, crackers and canned goods.
Gasoline pumps had run dry in Barbados on Monday morning.
Tropical storm watches and warnings have also been issued by the NHC for St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Martinique and Grenada.
The NHC added: “Dorian could be near hurricane strength when it passes through the northern Windward Islands on Tuesday.
“It is expected to be a hurricane when it moves near Puerto Rico and eastern Hispaniola.”
The tropical cyclone is expected to be a hurricane by the time it moves northwest across Puerto Rico on Wednesday
It will then plow into the Dominican Republic, according to projections of the NHC.
The news of the Dorian has renewed Hurricane anxiety in Puerto Rico.
The island was devastated in 2017 after being hit by Hurricane Maria.
Maria killed thousands of people and almost the whole territory was left without power for weeks.
Dorian is the fourth names tom if this year’s hurricane season.
The season reaches a peak in the few weeks surrounding mid September.
Two-thirds of all the storms produced in a typical season occur during this period in time.
This is because the conditions in the tropics become ideal for the development of storms.
Toward the end of August, the water had typically wattle to the mid-80s in many parts of the region.
A storm becomes a hurricane when top sustained winds reach 74 mph (119 kph).