Earl, Fiona churn across Atlantic

ORLANDO -- 

Tropical Storm Fiona formed east of the Leeward Islands early Monday evening.

Meanwhle, Hurricane Earl has intensified to Category 4 status. 

The storm continues to move away from the Virgin Islands, as Fiona continues to move rapidly westward.

Forecasters say there is a chance Earl could brush the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region toward the end of the week, with its closest approach to North Carolina on Friday.

In any case, the U.S. East Coast is likely to see pounding surf..

Hurricane Earl: Latest advisory

Watches and warnings

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

• Puerto Rico, including the islands of Culebra and Vieques
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• British Virgin Islands
• Turks and Caicos islands

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:

• southeastern Bahamas

Interests from the Carolinas northward to New England should monitor the progress of Earl.

For storm information specific to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by the San Juan National Weather Service Forecast Office. For storm information specific to your area outside the United States, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.

Discussion and 48-hour outlook

At 1 a.m., the center of Hurricane Earl was located near latitude 19.9 north, longitude 66.2 west.

Earl is moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph. This general motion is expected to continue this morning, followed by a turn toward the northwest later today. On the forecast track, the center of Earl will pass well north of Puerto Rico this morning, and pass east of the Turks and Caicos Islands on Tuesday night and Wednesday.
 
Maximum sustained winds are near 135 mph with higher gusts.  Earl is a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Some fluctuations in strength are likely over the next 24 to 48 hours.
 
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles.
 
The latest minimum central pressure reported by an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is 933 mb.

Hazards affecting land

Wind: Tropical storm conditions will gradually subside over the British and U.S. Virgin Islands this morning. Tropical storm conditions will affect portions of Puerto Rico through this morning. Stronger winds, especially in gusts, are likely over elevated terrain in Puerto Rico. Tropical storm conditions over Puerto Rico will begin to subside later today. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin to spread into the Turks and Caicos Islands by Tuesday afternoon.

Storm surge: Storm surge flooding and waves will begin to diminish over the tropical storm warning area today.

Rainfall: Earl is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches over the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico with possible isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches, especially over higher elevations. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

Next advisory

• Next advisory: 3 a.m.

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Tropical Storm Fiona

Watches and warnings

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:

• Antigua
• Barbuda
• Montserrat
• St. Kitts
• Nevis
• Anguilla
• St. Maarten
• Saba
• St. Eustatius

A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area...generally within 48 hours.
 
Interests elsewhere in the northern Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of Fiona.  Additional watches or warnings may be required for a portion of this area tomorrow morning.
 
For storm information specific to your area outside the United States, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.

Discussion and 48-hour outlook

At 2 a.m., the center of Tropical Storm Fiona was located near latitude 15.5 north, longitude 51.8 west.

Fiona is moving toward the west near 23 mph and a turn toward the west-northwest with a decrease in forward speed is anticipated later today. On the forecast track, the center of Fiona is expected to pass near or northeast of the northern Leeward Islands early Wednesday.
 
Maximum sustained winds remain near 40 mph with higher gusts.  Some slow strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.
 
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the center.
 
Estimated minimum central pressure is 1007 mb.

Hazards affecting land

Wind -- Tropical storm conditions could spread over portions of the northern Leeward Islands late on Tuesday or early on Wednesday.

Next advisory

• Next advisory: 5 a.m.

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Tropical Storm Danielle: Final advisory

Watches and warnings

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

Discussion and 48-hour outlook

At 11 p.m., the center of Tropical Storm Danielle was located near latitude 41.4 north, longitude 47.2 west.

Danielle is moving toward the east-northeast near 15 mph. This general motion with an increase in forward speed is expected to continue for the next day or so, followed by a turn toward the northeast by late Wednesday.
 
Maximum sustained winds remain near 70 mph with higher gusts. Slow weakening is expected before Danielle is absorbed by a large non-tropical low pressure system over the far north Atlantic.
 
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 275 miles from the center.
 
Estimated minimum central pressure is 975 mb.

Hazards affecting land

Surf: Large waves and dangerous surf conditions should diminish near Bermuda later today. Additionally, waves near 10 feet are occurring along portions of the island of Newfoundland, Canada. Please monitor products issued by your local weather office.

Next advisory

• This is the last public advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center on this system.