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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Hurricane Earl lashed the northeastern Caribbean today as a still-growing Category 3 storm, tearing roofs off buildings and cutting power to islanders on a course that could threaten the eastern United States this week.
The US National Hurricane Centre in Miami said Earl, which formed yesterday, was already a major hurricane with sustained winds of 125 miles per hour (205 kilometres per hour), and it was likely to keep gaining force.
The storm's centre was forecast to pass over or near the northernmost Virgin Islands later today as it gradually turns to the north before running roughly parallel to the US East Coast.
Earl's eye passed just north of the tiny British territory of Anguilla, where police said the wind blew the roofs off buildings and damaged utility poles.
"The winds are whistling outside," said Martin Gussie, a police officer involved in coordinating the emergency response. "When the gusts of wind come, each time it sounds stronger."
In Antigua, wind and rain destroyed at least one home, though there were no reports of critical injuries. Emergency response officials said about 350 people were in shelters. Local weather authorities reported at least 5 inches (13 centimetres) of rain and 10-foot (3-metre) waves.
In St Maarten, the storm toppled trees, damaged roofs and knocked out electricity to much of the island. Heavy gusts of wind swirled debris across streets that were empty due to a government-imposed curfew.
Cruise lines diverted ships to other ports, and flights were canceled across Puerto Rico and the eastern Caribbean.
The US Virgin Islands imposed a curfew from 6 pm Monday to 5:30 am Tuesday for the islands of St Thomas and St John. Police Commissioner Novelle Francis said anyone found on the street during those hours without a pass will be taken into custody.
Hurricane warnings were in effect for Anguilla, St Martin, St Barthelemy, St Maarten, Saba, St Eustatius, the British Virgin Islands, the US Virgin Islands and the Puerto Rican islands of Culebra and Vieques.
By late this morning, Earl was about 140 miles (230km) east of San Juan and headed west-northwest at 15 mph (24 km/h), according to the NHC. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 60 miles (95km) from its centre.
Earl has grown rapidly in strength, fuelled by warm ocean temperatures of 86 F (30 C).
Earl could bring battering waves and storm surges of up to four feet (1.2m) above normal on some islands, as well as downpours that threaten to unleash flash floods and mudslides.
Forecasters say there is a chance the hurricane could brush the US Mid-Atlantic region toward the end of the week, with its closest approach to North Carolina on Thursday or Friday.
Meanwhile, the Category 1 Hurricane Danielle was weakening far out over the north Atlantic.
The US National Hurricane Centre in Miami said Earl, which formed yesterday, was already a major hurricane with sustained winds of 125 miles per hour (205 kilometres per hour), and it was likely to keep gaining force.
The storm's centre was forecast to pass over or near the northernmost Virgin Islands later today as it gradually turns to the north before running roughly parallel to the US East Coast.
Earl's eye passed just north of the tiny British territory of Anguilla, where police said the wind blew the roofs off buildings and damaged utility poles.
"The winds are whistling outside," said Martin Gussie, a police officer involved in coordinating the emergency response. "When the gusts of wind come, each time it sounds stronger."
In Antigua, wind and rain destroyed at least one home, though there were no reports of critical injuries. Emergency response officials said about 350 people were in shelters. Local weather authorities reported at least 5 inches (13 centimetres) of rain and 10-foot (3-metre) waves.
In St Maarten, the storm toppled trees, damaged roofs and knocked out electricity to much of the island. Heavy gusts of wind swirled debris across streets that were empty due to a government-imposed curfew.
Cruise lines diverted ships to other ports, and flights were canceled across Puerto Rico and the eastern Caribbean.
The US Virgin Islands imposed a curfew from 6 pm Monday to 5:30 am Tuesday for the islands of St Thomas and St John. Police Commissioner Novelle Francis said anyone found on the street during those hours without a pass will be taken into custody.
Hurricane warnings were in effect for Anguilla, St Martin, St Barthelemy, St Maarten, Saba, St Eustatius, the British Virgin Islands, the US Virgin Islands and the Puerto Rican islands of Culebra and Vieques.
By late this morning, Earl was about 140 miles (230km) east of San Juan and headed west-northwest at 15 mph (24 km/h), according to the NHC. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 60 miles (95km) from its centre.
Earl has grown rapidly in strength, fuelled by warm ocean temperatures of 86 F (30 C).
Earl could bring battering waves and storm surges of up to four feet (1.2m) above normal on some islands, as well as downpours that threaten to unleash flash floods and mudslides.
Forecasters say there is a chance the hurricane could brush the US Mid-Atlantic region toward the end of the week, with its closest approach to North Carolina on Thursday or Friday.
Meanwhile, the Category 1 Hurricane Danielle was weakening far out over the north Atlantic.
