Miami, August 26 (RHC)-- The Lesser Antilles are being put on alert for impacts from Tropical Storm Dorian ranging from strong winds and rough surf to localized flooding early this week.  An area of disturbed weather that AccuWeather meteorologists were monitoring since last week became Tropical Depression Five on Saturday morning.  By Saturday afternoon, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Dorian.

Dorian is the fourth named tropical system of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season.

As of 5 a.m. EDT on Monday, Dorian was located about 225 miles east-southeast of Barbados.  The compact storm was moving west with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph.   Topical storm watches and warnings have been issued for some of the islands of the Lesser Antilles in anticipation of Dorian's arrival.

"The center of Dorian is expected to pass close to Barbados Monday night or early Tuesday morning before the system crosses the Lesser Antilles and heads into the eastern Caribbean," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.

Prior to Dorian's arrival, surf will become dangerous for swimmers and small craft along the east-facing beaches of the islands on Monday.