MIAMI – Tropical Storm warnings have been issued for the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

A tropical storm warning means the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico could feel the effects of Erika within 24 hours.

As of 5 p.m. AST, the storm has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and is moving to the west at 17 mph.

The small storm was located about 195 miles east of Antigua as of the 5 p.m. AST advisory from the hurricane center today.

The latest minimum central pressure reported by an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is 1005 mb (29.68 inches).

The northern Leeward Islands may feel tropical storm-force winds by late this evening into early tomorrow morning.

Erika will then bring more rain to drought-suffering Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and tropical storm-force winds Thursday and Thursday night.

Experts say Tropical Storm Erika’s effects will be felt in the Virgin Islands before 8 a.m. tomorrow.

Gov. Kenneth Mapp said in a morning press conference that government workers do not have to report to work on Thursday.

The American Red Cross on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John has opened shelters for those living in low-lying, flood-prone areas.

For more information please click on the following links:

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/26/us/tropical-weather-erika/

http://www.weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/tropical-storm-hurricane-erika-atlantic-august-2015