Weather experts have raised Hurricane Earl to a category four storm, warning “catastrophic damage” will occur if it makes landfall as it barrels across the Caribbean towards the US.
Earl strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane Monday, with sustained winds of up to 135 mph (215 kph). The hurricane was veering away from the U.S. Virgin Islands, but severe weather was expected there and in Puerto Rico.
With Earl’s movement, the government of the Bahamas issued a tropical storm warning for the Turks and Caicos Islands, and a tropical storm watch for the southeastern Bahamas, the hurricane center said.
As of 7 p.m. ET, Earl was about 95 miles (155 kilometers) from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The eye of the storm will move away from the Virgin Islands on Monday night and is expected to pass east of the Turks and Caicos Islands on Tuesday night and Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center reported.
Earl was moving west-northwest at 15 mph (24 kph).
“There is a very high risk of injury or death to people, livestock, and pets due to flying and falling debris,” the the US National Hurricane Center says on its website.
For accurate, up-to-date Bahamas weather information visit www.bahamas-weather.com.
