SAN JUAN (Reuters) – Tropical Storm Gonzalo reached hurricane strength as it churned through the Caribbean yesterday and headed toward the British Virgin Islands, the US National Hurricane Center said.
Gonzalo was about 20 miles (32 km) southeast of St Maarten, the half-French, half-Dutch island, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph).
A hurricane warning was in effect for the British Virgin Islands and hurricane watches were in effect for Puerto Rico, St Maarten, Anguilla and the US Virgin Islands.
Gonzalo was forecast to continue gaining strength and become a major hurricane tomorrow with sustained winds of 115 mph (185 (kph).
Most forecasts showed Gonzalo posing no threat of landfall in the mainland United States and spinning away in a northerly direction over the Atlantic after passing Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
In Puerto Rico, consumers stocked up on water, batteries and other emergency supplies as government officials urged residents to take precautions against a possible strike by Gonzalo, which was forecast to pass to the northeast of the island.