Earl becomes Category 1 hurricane with winds of 75 mph as it barrels toward eastern Caribbean

Earl becomes a Category 1 hurricane in Atlantic

MIAMI — Forecasters say Earl has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane as it barrels toward several islands in the eastern Caribbean.

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.

Forecasters warn Hurricane Earl 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 365 miles (585 km) east of the Northern Leeward Islands and had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph).