Tropical Storm Dolly formed in the central tropical Atlantic on Thursday morning, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has confirmed.

According to the NHC, Dolly was moving west at 24 mph (39 km/h), with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and higher gusts.

As of 11:00 am, the centre of Dolly was located near latitude 13.6 north and longitude 38.7 west. The system is expected to maintain its westward movement over the next couple of days and could approach the Leeward Islands this weekend.

Forecasters are advising residents in the Leeward Islands to monitor the system’s progress.

Little change in Dolly’s strength is expected over the next 48 hours. The NHC forecasts that the system will degenerate into a tropical wave before reaching the Leeward Islands.

Tropical-storm-force winds currently extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the centre, while the estimated minimum central pressure is 1007 millibars (29.74 inches).

Although Dolly is forecast to no longer be a tropical cyclone when it passes near the Leeward Islands, forecasters warn that heavy rainfall could begin to affect the Leeward Islands late Saturday into Sunday and the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola on Sunday and Monday.

The NHC said this heavy rain may produce flash flooding, especially in areas of higher terrain.

The storm’s name has also drawn attention because it formed just two days after the death of country music icon Dolly Parton. However, forecasters have stressed that the timing is purely coincidental as the name Dolly was already part of the predetermined list of names for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.