08-29-2010, 03:25 PM
looks like Earl is going to affect East coast by next Friday.
Miami, Florida (CNN) -- Forecast to gain "major" Category 3 status, Hurricane Earl pushed Sunday toward the islands of Antigua and Barbuda with its outer rainbands, the National Hurricane Center said.
A hurricane warning was in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Saba and St. Eustatius, forecasters said. A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning was in effect for the British and U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, including the islands of Culebra and Vieques.
Tropical storm-force conditions were forecast in the warning area later Sunday, with hurricane conditions expected early Monday, forecasters said. Tropical storm conditions were expected to spread across the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Monday, with hurricane conditions possible on Monday night.
"Strengthening is expected during the next 48 hours, and Earl is forecast to become a major hurricane by Tuesday," forecasters said. Earl was forecast to turn west-northwest and slow down over the next day. Tracking maps show it moving northward away from the Caribbean and possibly affecting the U.S. East Coast by Friday.
Miami, Florida (CNN) -- Forecast to gain "major" Category 3 status, Hurricane Earl pushed Sunday toward the islands of Antigua and Barbuda with its outer rainbands, the National Hurricane Center said.
A hurricane warning was in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Saba and St. Eustatius, forecasters said. A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning was in effect for the British and U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, including the islands of Culebra and Vieques.
Tropical storm-force conditions were forecast in the warning area later Sunday, with hurricane conditions expected early Monday, forecasters said. Tropical storm conditions were expected to spread across the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Monday, with hurricane conditions possible on Monday night.
"Strengthening is expected during the next 48 hours, and Earl is forecast to become a major hurricane by Tuesday," forecasters said. Earl was forecast to turn west-northwest and slow down over the next day. Tracking maps show it moving northward away from the Caribbean and possibly affecting the U.S. East Coast by Friday.