MIAMI (AP) - The National Hurricane Center says Earl has
strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane with winds near 135 mph
(215 kph) as it moves away from the Virgin Islands.
Earl is on a path that could brush the coast of the U.S. later
in the week, though it's too early to tell exactly where it will
go.
For now, tropical storm warnings and watches are in effect for
the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands
and the southeastern Bahamas, among other places. Puerto Rico is
also bracing for heavy rains and high seas.
Earl is about 110 miles (180 kph) northeast of San Juan and
moving west northwest at 15 mph (24 kph.)
Tropical Storm Fiona is right behind it, east of the Leeward
Islands.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
