FROM STAFF REPORTS

Tropical Storm Erika weakened slightly on Wednesday as it approaches the Leeward Islands, the National Hurricane Center said.

Tropical Storm Erika, which formed in the western Atlantic on Tuesday, is expected to dump 2-5 inches of rain over the Lesser Antillies and Puerto Rico in the next couple of days.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Guadeloupe, St. Martin, and St. Barthelemy. The government of France has also issued a tropical storm warning for Guadeloupe, the National Hurricane Center said.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, Antguilla, St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius.

The National Hurricane Center predicted the center of Tropical Storm Erika is about 100 miles East-Southeast of the Leeward Islands as of 11 a.m. Wednesday. The tropical storm is moving toward in a West-Northwestward motion, and will move through the Leeward Island tonight and tomorrow, the National Hurricane center said.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 40 mph. The storm is not expected to strengthen much on Wednesday.