Hurricane Frances Heading towards U.S.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami is currently tracking Frances, another powerful storm, which could strike the U.S. mainland by the end of the week.

Frances is packing sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) with hurricane force winds extending outward up to 85 miles (140 kms.) from the center, and tropical storm force winds extending outward up to 125 miles (205 km.) It’s currently moving westward north of Puerto Rico towards the Bahamas at around 10 mph (16 km/h). The NHC said it expects the storm to continue in this general direction.

Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for the Leeward Islands -Antigua, Barbuda, St. Maarten, Anguilla, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Eustatius and Saba. St. Martin and St. Barthelemy may also be threatened the NHC bulletin indicated. It also noted that a “hurricane watch remains in effect for the British and Northern U.S. Virgin Islands including St. Thomas, St. John and surrounding islands,” as well as the islands of Culebra and Vieques.