Erika Dissipates Over Cuba

ByDANIEL MANZO ABCNews logo
Saturday, August 29, 2015

Tropical Storm Erika dissipated Saturday morning as it pushed over Hispaniola and Cuba.

As the storm was moving towards Cuba, it dissipated due to higher terrain and unfavorable atmospheric conditions. The National Hurricane Center canceled all tropical storm watches and warnings related to the storm about 9 a.m.

Despite losing strength, Erika drenched Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Erika also caused widespread devastation on the small Caribbean island of Dominica, killing at least 20 people and leaving another 31 missing.

"The extent of the devastation is monumental. It is far worse than expected," Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said Friday. "We have, in essence, to rebuild Dominica."

Erika also caused more than $16 million in damage to crops in Puerto Rico, where more than 200,000 people lost power during the storm.

The main impacts to Florida will likely be heavy rain and breezy winds during the first portion of next week.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm's expected approach late Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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