by Donald Wood
Last updated: 10:23 AM ET, Mon August 26, 2019
Update: August 27, 2019 at 8:10 a.m. ET
Tropical Storm Dorian continues to build strength as it moves toward Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Florida.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the National Hurricane Center said Tuesday Dorian is expected to "gradually intensify" and make landfall in the Hispaniola region within the next 36 to 48 hours.
As a result, new tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches were issued for Puerto Rico and part of the Dominican Republic, as the storm is expected to become a hurricane by the time it hits the island nations.
"Dorian is forecast to pass near or south of Puerto Rico on Wednesday, move near or over eastern Hispaniola Wednesday night, and move north of Hispaniola on Thursday," the National Hurricane Center said in a statement.
Major airlines in the United States have started issuing travel advisories and waiving change fees, including American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Travelers flying to impacted airports in the Caribbean will be able to change their current itineraries without paying extra.
The National Hurricane Center is keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Dorian as it continues to build strength in the Caribbean Sea and impacts travel over the next week.
According to AccuWeather.com, Dorian is the fourth tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and will likely intensify to near-hurricane strength over the eastern Caribbean Sea by Tuesday.
Tropical Storm Dorian was moving westward at 14 miles per hour Monday morning and located between near Barbados and St. Lucia. Tropical storm watches have been issued in Dominica, Martinique and Grenada, while Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent have issued tropical storm warnings.
Maximum sustained winds were measured at 60 miles per hour and areas forecasted to be in the path of the storm system are preparing for heavy rain and potential flooding. Dorian could become a hurricane by Wednesday if it continues to build strength.
For travelers, Caribbean Airlines has issued a travel advisory and is waiving change fees for passengers flying between August 26-28 to or from Piarco International Airport in Trinidad; Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados; and Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica.
Tropical Storm Dorian is already altering cruise ship itineraries, according to Cruise Critic, including the Allure of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas all being forced to replace stops.
As for next week, officials from Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International will continue to monitor the storm over the coming days.
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