Even so, winds on Barbados were as high as 40 mph and higher on St. Lucia and the storm presents a well-defined tight swirl on radar, indicative that, if not at the surface, there’s a strong spinning vortex aloft.
As it traverses the Caribbean this weekend, it’ll be avoiding very hostile upper-level winds, thus it might be able to strengthen, the National Weather Service advises.
Where it goes next week -- into Mexico and Central America or into the Gulf -- will depend on the strength and orientation of a ridge to its north as well as an upper low projected over the western Gulf.


