The Office of Disaster Management (ODM) says based on forecasted projections on Friday, Tropical Storm (TS) Ophelia is expected now to pass approximately 150 miles from Sint Maarten on Sunday.
The storm even though strengthened on Friday is still forecasted to weaken according to the National Hurricane Center.
Impact on local weather conditions are expected to be limited according to the Meteorological Department of Curacao on Friday afternoon.
The 15th storm of the season on Friday was located over 500 miles from the Leeward/Windward island chain. Most of the weather and tropical storm force winds is in the Northern and Eastern quadrant of the storm or 260 miles from the center out over open ocean.
TS Ophelia is moving at approximately 15 miles per hour on a West North West track. Wind speeds on Friday afternoon were at 60 miles per hour.
TS Ophelia poses no threat to land and up to Friday afternoon is expected to remain out over the open Atlantic Ocean.
The ODM will continue to closely monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Ophelia until it clears our area.