Earl strengthens as it barrels towards the US

The National Hurricane Centre says Earl has strengthened to a Category 4 system as it moves away from the Virgin Islands.

Earl's sustained winds are now at 135 miles per hour Hand is expected to gain more strength before heading towards the US.

In its latest advisory, the National Hurricane Centre said Earl is north-east of Puerto Rico, and moving west-northwest at about 15 miles per hour.

Earl caused heavy rains and flooding in low-lying areas, and it damaged homes on several islands including Antigua and Barbuda.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect for Puerto Rico, the U.S and British Virgin Islands, as well as the Turks and Caicos Islands after the centre of the storm moved away from the Virgin Islands on Monday night and is expected to pass to the east of the Turks and Caicos on Tuesday night.

A tropical storm watch has been issued for the southeastern Bahamas.

In its five-day path projection, the Hurricane Centre predicted Earl to run parallel to the U.S. East coast.

However, there is the possibility of a brush with the eastern seaboard -- beginning in North Carolina late Thursday and including the major metropolitan areas along the coast during the latter part of the week.  

Fiona forms & following Earl                                                            

A new tropical storm, Fiona, has formed in the Atlantic.

The storm has maximum winds of 40 miles per hour and is projected to pass just north of the Leeward Islands by Wednesday.

It will likely stay farther out in the Atlantic than the northward path of Hurricane Earl which doused several islands in the north-east Caribbean over the past two days.