Tropical Storm Tomas passed over eastern Jamaica overnight Thursday dumping up to 3 inches of rain on parts of the Caribbean country before increasing to Hurricane strength as it rolled towards Haiti.

The Category 1 storm moving northeast at 10 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour, was lashing lashing portions of  Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba Friday morning.

The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that the center of Tomas will pass near western Haiti and near or over extreme eastern Cuba on Friday. It will then pass near or over the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos late Friday into the evening hours.

Tomas is expected to produce up to 10 inches of rain over much of Haiti and the Dominican Republic: some areas could receive up to 15 inches of rain. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. Eastern Cuba, along with the southern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos, could see up to six inches of rain.

Hurricane warnings are in effect for Haiti, southeastern Bahamas,Turks and Caicos, and the Cuban province of Guantanamo.

 Please check back to www.caycompass.com for further updates on Tropical Storm Tomas.... and click here for more detailed weather information.