The National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Jose continues to strengthen in the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday.
In its 5 a.m. advisory, the NHC said Jose was located about 815 miles east of the Lesser Antilles with sustained winds up to 90 mph. Forecasters say Jose's wind speeds are expected to strengthen within the next 48 hours.
Jose formed Tuesday in the central Atlantic, more than 1,000 miles east of Hurricane Irma, and so far is following Irma's path westward toward the Caribbean.
The NHC said Jose "continues intensifying over the Central Atlantic it travels west-northwest at 18 mph and this general motion continuing for the next couple of days."
There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect, though forecasters warned the Leeward Islands to monitor the storm. Hurricane and Tropical Storm Watches will likely be required for portions of these islands later this morning.
The NHC forecast track shows Jose's eye nearing parts of the Lesser Antilles Saturday afternoon and Puerto Rico on Sunday as a hurricane before it makes a turn toward the northwest. Jose's preliminary forecast track has it moving north of Irma's path, in the direction of North Carolina.
Jose is the tenth named storm of the Atlantic season so far. The eleventh, Katia, formed early Wednesday and strengthened into a hurricane in the evening.
In its 5 a.m. advisory, the NHC said Jose was located about 815 miles east of the Lesser Antilles with sustained winds up to 90 mph. Forecasters say Jose's wind speeds are expected to strengthen within the next 48 hours.
Jose formed Tuesday in the central Atlantic, more than 1,000 miles east of Hurricane Irma, and so far is following Irma's path westward toward the Caribbean.
Jose strengthened into a hurricane Wednesday evening and its projected path has it nearing the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico over the weekend. Image courtesy NOAA
There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect, though forecasters warned the Leeward Islands to monitor the storm. Hurricane and Tropical Storm Watches will likely be required for portions of these islands later this morning.
The NHC forecast track shows Jose's eye nearing parts of the Lesser Antilles Saturday afternoon and Puerto Rico on Sunday as a hurricane before it makes a turn toward the northwest. Jose's preliminary forecast track has it moving north of Irma's path, in the direction of North Carolina.
Jose is the tenth named storm of the Atlantic season so far. The eleventh, Katia, formed early Wednesday and strengthened into a hurricane in the evening.
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