Tropical Storm Dorian forecast to become hurricane later this week, heatwaves continue West and South

Tropical Storm Dorian is continuing to gain strength as it moves through the eastern Caribbean and is now forecast to become a hurricane as it passes to the south of Puerto Rico later this week.

The storm now has max sustained winds at 60 miles per hour and is located 95 miles southeast of Barbados.

Tropical Storm Warnings have currently been issued for Barbados, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The path of the Tropical Storm is currently forecast to make landfall on the east coast of the Dominican Republic early Thursday morning but is expected to weaken significantly after that with no heavy impact set for the U.S.

On the current track, the storm is expected to move through the Winward Islands on Tuesday and is forecast to continue to strengthen and could become a hurricane by Tuesday or Wednesday before reaching Puerto Rico on Wednesday morning as a possible Category 1 hurricane.

There is another tropical low pressure system developing off the Southeastern U.S. coast which could develop into a tropical depression or even turn into Tropical Storm Erin. The low pressure system, however, is forecast to move away from the coast causing only high surf in the region.

Elsewhere, dry weather and gusty winds that started several brush fires in California yesterday look like they will continue into today with numerous heat and fire alerts issued as a new heat wave is expected to blanket the region from Arizona to Oregon. Red Flag Warnings have also been issued for possible fires from Utah to Wyoming this afternoon.

Record heat is also expected in the South where Midland, Texas recorded a new all-time high in August yesterday at 108 Fahrenheit. More heat and humidity is also expected from New Mexico to Arizona.

The Midwest, however, is a different story. Flooding and severe storms moved through the region producing flash flooding and damaging winds. 9 inches of rain fell in northern Alabama producing major flash flooding in the cities of Florence and Muscle Shoals over the weekend.

A new storm system is moving into the Plains today with more severe weather expected from Oklahoma to Illinois with threats of damaging winds, large hail, and possible tornadoes.