Barbados, August 1 (RHC)-- Tropical Storm Bertha, the second storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, is taking aim at Barbados and the Lesser Antilles.

Bertha’s maximum sustained winds Thursday night were near 45 mph (75 kph) and the storm was located 275 miles (445 kilometers) southeast of Barbados and about 385 miles (620 kilometers) southeast of St. Lucia, and is moving northwest at 20 mph (31 kph).

A tropical storm warning has been issued for Barbados, Saint Lucia and Dominica. A tropical storm watch has been issued for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to Caribbean 360 web page.

According to the latest meteorology reports in the area, Bertha is expected to pass near Barbados late Friday afternoon and cross over the central Lesser Antilles on Friday evening.