SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Hurricane Earl lashed the north-eastern Caribbean yesterday as a still-growing Category 3 storm on a course that could threaten the eastern United States later this week.
The United States National Hurricane Centre in Miami said Earl, which formed on Sunday, was already a major hurricane with sustained winds of 120 mph (193 kph), and it was likely to keep gaining force.
“Interests from North Carolina all the way to Maine should keep an eye on the system,” said Jessica Schauer, a meteorologist at the Hurricane Centre.
The storm’s forecast track would run north of the Caribbean, then bend to the north, roughly parallel to the American East Coast. The hurricane centre said it was too early to say what effect Earl would have on the United States.
The eye of the powerful storm was passing close to 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, powerful wind and rain destroyed at least one home and at least eight people had to be evacuated, though there were no reports of critical injuries. Emergency response officials said about 350 people were in shelters.
Local weather authorities reported at least five inches of rain and 10-foot waves.
In St Maarten, the storm toppled trees and knocked out electricity to much of the island, but there were no reports of serious damage. Heavy gusts of wind swirled debris across streets that were empty due to a government-imposed curfew.
Alisha Daya, a 24-year-old tourist from Milwaukee, said she wore earplugs on Sunday night but still had trouble sleeping because of the noise from crashing waves at the Oyster Bay Beach Resort in St Maarten.
“It was loud because we were right on the ocean,” said Daya, who added that storm would keep her and her parents and boyfriend from leaving the island as planned yesterday although the worst seemed to have passed. “Some furniture is flying around, but everything seems to be okay.”
Cruise lines diverted ships to other ports in the Caribbean and Mexico as a customary precaution for tropical weather. Antigua’s V.C. Bird International Airport closed, and regional airlines LIAT and Winair suspended flights. (AP)
