A Hurricane Watch is now in effect for several islands in the Eastern Caribbean as Tropical Storm Maria formed in the western Atlantic Ocean on Saturday.
The Miami based National Hurricane Centre says Maria is packing maximum sustained winds of 50mph and is moving towards the Caribbean at 19 mph.
Hurricane watch
Just days after several islands were battered by a powerful Hurricane Irma, a hurricane watch is in effect for Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts Nevis, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Saba and St. Eustatuius, St. Maarten and Anguilla.
Tropical Storm watch
Meanwhile, a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for St. Lucia, Martinique, Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The National Hurricane Centre says interests elsewhere in the Lesser Antilles and the British and U. S.Virgin Islands should monitor the progress of the system.
It is also expected that additional Tropical Storm or Hurricane Watches and Warnings will likely be issued on Sunday.
On the forecast track, the center of Maria will be near the Leeward Islands Monday night.
Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Maria will likely become a hurricane on Sunday.
