Hurricane Earl barrels toward eastern Caribbean, expected to continue strengthening

Hurricane Earl barrels toward eastern Caribbean

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. It could become a major hurricane by Tuesday.

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, and heavy rains could cause flash floods and mudslides.

Earl was 225 miles (360 km) east of Antigua and had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph).