Tropical Storm Ernesto became better organized Thursday as it moved quickly toward Barbados and the Windward Islands, the National Hurricane Center said.
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In the NHC's 11 p.m. advisory, the tropical storm was 80 miles east of Barbados. It had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph with higher gusts.
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The tropical storm was moving west at 22 mph.
The tropical storm is expected to continue moving in the same direction over the next 48 hours. Some slight strengthening is forecast in the next 48 hours.
Tropical storm warning were issued in Barbados, St. Vincent, the Grenadines, Dominica, St. Lucia, Martinique, and Guadeloupe. The center of the tropical storm is expected to be near the Windward Islands late Thursday or early Friday.