Published On:Tuesday, August 31, 2010

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands, and a Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for the islands of Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island and Long Cay.

A Tropical Storm Warning means Tropical Storm conditions can be felt within 36 hours while a Tropical Storm Watch means that Tropical Storm conditions are possible within the watch area generally within 48 hours.

At 5am, the centre of Hurricane Earl was located near latitude 20.5 degrees north and longitude 66.7 degrees west or about 290 miles east-southeast of Grand Turk Island.

Earl is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 miles per hour. A gradual turn toward the northwest is expected today. On the forecast track, the centre of Hurricane Earl is expected to pass just to the east of the Turks and Caicos Islands later today and tonight.

Maximum sustained winds are near 135 miles per hour with higher gusts. Earl is a major category four hurricane and some fluctuations in strength are likely during the next 48 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the centre and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles from the centre. Residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands should remain alert and be ready to take quick action should the storm shift course and increase its threat. Residents in the southeast Bahamas should continue to monitor the progress of Hurricane Earl and be prepared to take the necessary action should the need arise.