Eastern/Northern Caribbean bracing for Hurricane Irma

A Hurricane Warning has been issued for the following islands as hurricane Irma churns its way across the Atlantic towards the Eastern and Northern Caribbean:

Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, the British Virgin Islands, Sana, St. Eustatius, Sint Martin, St. Martin and Saint Barthelemy.  A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warming area and it is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds.

 Meanwhile, a Hurricane watch has been issued for:

The US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.  A Hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area and it is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds.

And a Tropical Strom warning has been issued for Dominica.   A Tropical Storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, general within 48 hours.

Residents in Haiti, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Southern Bahamas and the Dominican Republic have been asked to monitor the progress of the hurricane.

At 2:00 p.m. on Monday, hurricane Irma was located at 16.7 North and 53.8 West or about 530 miles (850 km) East of the Leeward Islands.  It is moving towards the WSW at 14 miles (22km) per hour.  The hurricane is packing maximum sustained winds of 120 miles (195 km) per hour.