Canada issues several travel advisories as Tropical Storm Dorian intensifies

UPDATE: The Canadian government is advising that individuals avoid all non-essential travel to the Dominican Republic as well.

Due to significant threats from Tropical Storm Dorian, the Canadian government is asking people to avoid all non-essential travel to Puerto Rico.

For those already in the area, the government is recommending that individuals exercise caution as the storm is likely to develop into a hurricane on Tuesday and bring excessive rainfall, strong winds, flooding and landslides to the region.

On Tuesday morning, the National Hurricane Center in the U.S. said there is a hurricane watch in effect for Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, there is also a tropical storm warning in effect for Martinique, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area,” the centre stated in the advisory.

“A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.”

According to the National Hurricane Center, the government of St. Lucia has ended its tropical storm warning for the area, after the storm moved through the island towards Puerto Rico.

The Canadian government has alerted the public that authorities in Barbados have designated the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre for people who may require shelter.