Storms Brewing In The Atlantic Prompt Another Hurricane Warning

Lydia O'Connor
Updated

Storms brewing in the Atlantic Ocean are gaining strength, prompting hurricane watches and warnings across the Caribbean on Sunday.

Tropical Storm Maria strengthened into a hurricane on Sunday afternoon and was expected to continue to gain strength, the National Hurricane Center warned Sunday at 5 pm.

The likelihood of Maria bringing storm surge, high rainfall totals and dangerous wind speeds has prompted a hurricane warning in Dominica and a tropical storm warning in St. Lucia. Hurricane and tropical storm watches, which are issued when storm conditions are possible but not necessarily expected, remain in place across several Caribbean island nations.

The threat comes just days after Hurricane Irma ripped through the Atlantic, causing mass destruction in several Caribbean communities and throughout much of Florida.

The Leeward Islands will likely take the first hit as Maria moves west-northwest with maximum sustained wind speeds near 65 miles per hour, the NHC warned.

“Hurricane conditions are first expected within portions of the Leeward Islands by Monday night, with tropical storm conditions beginning on Monday,” the center said.

“A dangerous storm surge accompanied by large and destructive waves will raise water levels by as much as 4 to 6 feet above normal tide levels near where the center of Maria moves across the Leeward Islands.”

Over the next several days, the storm may bring isolated instances of 20 inches of rain to the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.

On the U.S. Virgin Islands on Sunday, soldiers from the 602nd Area Support Medical Company break down a field hospital outside the Schneider Regional Medical Center while preparing to evacuate in advance of Maria. (Photo: Jonathan Drake / Reuters)
On the U.S. Virgin Islands on Sunday, soldiers from the 602nd Area Support Medical Company break down a field hospital outside the Schneider Regional Medical Center while preparing to evacuate in advance of Maria. (Photo: Jonathan Drake / Reuters)

Meanwhile, Hurricane Jose has gained some strength but remains a Category 1 hurricane with no effective watches or warnings associated with it. But that could change in the coming days.

“Interests from North Carolina northward to New England on the east coast of the United States should monitor the progress of this system,” the NHC warned Sunday morning. “Tropical storm watches may be needed for portions of this area during the next day or so.”

Potentially dangerous swells associated with Jose are already affecting Bermuda, the Bahamas and much of the east coast of the U.S.

In the Pacific, the more sluggish Tropical Storm Otis saw maximum sustained wind speeds increase to 60 miles per hour on Sunday, up from 50 miles per hour earlier that morning. No watches or warnings associated with the storm are in currently effect.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story stated there were three storms gaining strength in the Atlantic. There are two gaining strength there.

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A truck was blown over as Hurricane Irma passed through the Florida Keys.
A truck was blown over as Hurricane Irma passed through the Florida Keys.
A man died when his pickup truck crashed into a tree in the Florida Keys.
A man died when his pickup truck crashed into a tree in the Florida Keys.
High winds split a large tree in Coral Beach.
High winds split a large tree in Coral Beach.
MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: People walk past a building where the roof was blown off by Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Miami, Florida. Hurricane Irma, which first made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, has weakened to a Category 2 as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: People walk past a building where the roof was blown off by Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017 in Miami, Florida. Hurricane Irma, which first made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, has weakened to a Category 2 as it moves up the coast. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Boats at a marina in Coconut Grove
Boats at a marina in Coconut Grove
Flooding in the Brickell neighborhood as Hurricane Irma passes Miami, Florida, U.S. September 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Yang
Flooding in the Brickell neighborhood as Hurricane Irma passes Miami, Florida, U.S. September 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Yang
A street sign is knocked over by high winds in Coral Beach.
A street sign is knocked over by high winds in Coral Beach.
Flooding in the Brickell neighborhood as Hurricane Irma passes Miami, Florida, U.S. September 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Yang
Flooding in the Brickell neighborhood as Hurricane Irma passes Miami, Florida, U.S. September 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Yang
Boats at a marina in Coconut Grove.
Boats at a marina in Coconut Grove.
A vehicle drives along a flooded street in downtown Miami.
A vehicle drives along a flooded street in downtown Miami.
Flooding begins in the Brickell neighborhood as Hurricane Irma passes Miami, Florida, U.S. September 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Yang
Flooding begins in the Brickell neighborhood as Hurricane Irma passes Miami, Florida, U.S. September 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Yang
A collapsed construction crane downtown Miami.
A collapsed construction crane downtown Miami.
Palm trees blow in the winds in Bonita Springs.
Palm trees blow in the winds in Bonita Springs.
Broken tree branches block roads in Coral Beach.
Broken tree branches block roads in Coral Beach.
East Oakland Park Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.
East Oakland Park Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.