Tropical Storm Dolly forms with 40 mph winds, eyes Leeward Islands
What's next: Forecasters expect Dolly to weaken by Friday, but heavy rain could reach the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola this weekend.
Tropical Storm Dolly formed Thursday in the Atlantic Ocean with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and a westward track of 24 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. Forecasters expect the system to hold its strength briefly before weaker environmental conditions begin to tear it apart on Friday. Current projections show Dolly fading into a tropical wave as it nears the Leeward Islands late this weekend. Even if winds ease, the storm could still bring heavy rain from late Saturday into Sunday to the Leeward Islands, including the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola, raising the risk of flash flooding in higher terrain. Dolly is the fourth named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.