BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Tropical Storm Jerry is continuing to strengthen as it approaches the Leeward Islands.

In the latest update from the Miami based National Hurricane Centre, at 11:00am (local time) , the center of the storm was  located near latitude 15.9 North, longitude 59.1 West.

Jerry is moving toward the west-northwest near 18 mph and a turn toward the northwest is expected late Thursday, followed by a slightly slower northward motion on Friday and Saturday.

On the forecast track, the center of Jerry is expected to pass near or to the northeast of the northern Leeward Islands later Thursday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts and gradual strengthening is forecast during the next few days as the forecast states that Jerry could become a hurricane by late Friday or Saturday.

Meanwhile, the government of Antigua and Barbuda has issued a Tropical Storm warning for Barbuda.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Antigua, Anguilla, St Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat, St Barthelemy,  St Martin, Sint Maarten, Saba and St Eustatius, Guadeloupe and the adjacent islands.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within 12 hours.

This means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

The National Hurricane centre says interests elsewhere in the northern Leeward Islands and the British and US Virgin Islands should monitor the progress of Jerry.