Hurricane Jose strengthens to category four as it hurtles towards Caribbean

Upgraded to category three hurricane

Friday, 8th September 2017

Last updated: September 8, 2017 at 17:35 pm

Watches and warnings are in place for Caribbean islands as Hurricane Jose speeds towards the region.

The new storm, which today was upgraded from category three to four, follows the devastating path of Hurricane Irma, which has wreaked havoc.

OVERWHELMING: The latest on Hurricane Irma

The death toll from Irma has now reached 14, including a two-year-old in Barbuda.

The US state of Florida is expected to feel its force over the week.

Jose is currently 415 miles (670km) east of the northern Leeward Islands.

Sustained winds are 150mph (240kmph), and it is travelling west-northwest at 18mph (30kmph). Just hours ago it was blowing at 125mph.

Preparations underway – again

The new hurricane is expected to strengthen slightly throughout today.

“A slower west-northwestward motion is expected during the next couple of days. On the forecast track, Jose is expected to be near the northern Leeward

Islands on Saturday,” said the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.

Although ranked as a less serious disturbance than Irma, which reached the maximum category five, there are fears Hurricane Jose could cause severe damage.

A hurricane watch is in place for Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Sint Maarten, Saint-Martin, and St Barthelemy.

Other than Antigua, these countries were among the worst affected by Irma. Barbuda was described by its prime minister as “barely habitable”.

Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saba and St Eustatius are under tropical storm watches, with Sint Maarten, Saint-Martin, and St Barthelemy added to the list at 11am AST today.

In Dominica the Office of Disaster Management has begin issuing advice, although the island isn’t currently being official warned about any major problems.

Marshall Alexander, forecaster at the Dominica Dominica Meteorological Service, said that the concern for Dominica is feeder bands and rough seas.

“Current projection is for an increase in cloudiness, showers and thunderstorms, which could be moderate to heavy at times and gusty winds, by this afternoon and particularly on Saturday.”

A flood watch or warning may be issued for Dominica by this afternoon, he added.

The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services are also warning eastern Caribbean residents to remain vigilant.

Forecaster Lenard Josiah said further watches may need to be issued soon.

St Kitts and Nevis, which is currently under a tropical storm watch, is advising caution over Hurricane Irma.

“Although the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is not expected to experience hurricane conditions during the passage of Jose, residents should keep monitoring the advisories on the progress of Hurricane Jose until it moves away from the Federation and the threat has been discontinued," said Elmo Burke, a senior meteorological officer.