Storms Brewing In The Atlantic Prompt Another Hurricane Warning

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.

Newly named Tropical Storm #Maria expected to strengthen and affect portions of the Leeward Islands as a hurricane. https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb pic.twitter.com/YCUkxWGSKQ

NHC Atlantic Ops (@NHC_Atlantic) September 16, 2017","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"NHC Atlantic Ops","author_url":"https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic","cache_age":86400,"description":"Newly named Tropical Storm #Maria expected to strengthen and affect portions of the Leeward Islands as a hurricane. https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb pic.twitter.com/YCUkxWGSKQ— NHC Atlantic Ops (@NHC_Atlantic) September 16, 2017\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"NHC Atlantic Ops on 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Newly named Tropical Storm #Maria expected to strengthen and affect portions of the Leeward Islands as a hurricane. https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb pic.twitter.com/YCUkxWGSKQ
NHC Atlantic Ops (@NHC_Atlantic) September 16, 2017

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.