Published On:Tuesday, August 31, 2010

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

A Tropical Storm Warning means that Tropical Storm conditions are possible within the warning area within 36 hours and a Tropical Storm Watch means those conditions are possible within 48 hours.

At 9am the centre of Hurricane Earl was located near latitude 21.0 degrees north and longitude 67.6 degrees west or about 230 miles east-southeast of Grand Turks and about 390 miles east-southeast of Mayaguana.

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 Earl will pass just to the east of the Turks and Caicos Islands later today and tonight.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 135 miles per hour with higher gusts. Earl is a category four hurricane. Some fluctuations in strength are likely during the next 24 to 48 hours.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 75 miles from the centre and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles.

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 Earl.

Gusty winds to Tropical Storm force winds and localised flooding in low lying areas can be expected later tonight and early Wednesday morning as Earl passes east of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Small craft operators should remain in port and continue to monitor the progress of Earl.