Danielle falls to lowest-level hurricane far offshore as Earle approaches hurricane strength

Danielle now lowest-level hurricane far offshore

MIAMI — Tropical Storm Earl is barreling toward several islands in the eastern Caribbean and likely will become a hurricane later in the day.

Meanwhile, the Category 1 Hurricane Danielle was bringing dangerous rip currents to the U.S. East Coast.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says Earl could make landfall over the Northern Leeward Islands as soon as Sunday night. It likely will strengthen into a hurricane later in the day.

Forecasters warn the storm could bring battering waves and storm surge reaching up to 3 feet above normal tide levels in some areas. Hurricane warnings and watches had been issued for several islands.

Earl was 370 miles (595 km) east of the Northern Leeward Islands and had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph).