Tropical Storm Maria has now reached hurricane strength and is approaching the Leeward Islands in northeast Caribbean less than two weeks after the area was battered by powerful Irma.
Maria is about 225km east northeast of Barbados and 445km east southeast of Dominica with maximum sustained winds of 120km/h and is moving west northwest at 24km/h, the US National Hurricane Centre says.
Maria is expected to cross the Leeward Islands tomorrow, the NHC says.
Hurricane warnings were in place for the French island of Guadeloupe and for Dominica.
Hurricane conditions also are possible by Wednesday for Antigua, Barbuda, St Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Saba, St Eustatius, St Maarten, St Martin, St Barthelemy and Anguilla, the NHC said.
