MIAMI, (Reuters) – Tropical Storm Earl bulked up to hurricane strength on a track toward islands in the eastern Caribbean yesterday, while Hurricane Danielle weakened to a Category 1 storm, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
Earl reached hurricane status early yesterday and had winds of 85 miles per hour (140 kph) by early evening, when it was about 240 miles (385 km) east of St Maarten and moving westward.
Warnings advising of high winds and other hurricane conditions within 24 hours went up on popular tourist islands, including Antigua, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands and St. Maarten, the hurricane center said. Earl was moving at 14 mph (22 kph).
Forecasts showed Earl soon strengthening to a major hurricane and turning west-northwest before accelerating northward off the U.S. East Coast later in the week, far from the oil-producing Gulf Coast region.
“Additional strengthening is expected during the next 48 hours, and Earl is forecast to become a major hurricane on Monday,” the forecasters said. “The center of Earl will pass near or over the northernmost Leeward Islands tonight and Monday.”
Government officials also issued hurricane watches cautioning of possible hurricane weather within 36 hours for the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, including the islands of Culebra and Vieques.
