Tropical Storm Jose became Hurricane Jose today, the seventh hurricane of the season. At present it is bearing down on the Lesser Antilles, and gaining strength. Maximum sustained winds are now up to 75 mph or 120 km/hr. As of the 11 am report of the United States National Weather Service Miami office reported that Jose was centered 200 miles (325 kilometers) east-southeast of Dominica at latitude 14.3 north, longitude 58.5 west. The hurricane maintains a movement west-northwest at 13 miles an hour which if sustained would take it to pass north of the Dominican Republic. The good news is that forecasters say a continued west-northwest track is the most likely path in the short term. A large upper-level trough should induce a northerly track beyond a three-day limit. As a result, the DR would only receive about a day of heavy rains, if anything. Notwithstanding, the Weather Service says that interests in the Dominican Republic should closely monitor the progress of Jose, which is still three days away. Hurricane warnings have been issued for Dominica, Montserrat, Antigua, Barbuda, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Eustatius, Saba, Dutch St. Maarten and Anguilla. Hurricane watch has also been issued for as far north as the British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. A hurricane watch has been issued for Martinique, Guadaloupe and surrounding islands. Also for French St. Martin and St. Barts. Tropical storm warnings are in place for Barbados and St. Lucia. Jose is the 10th tropical storm of the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from 1 June 1 through 30 November. A hurricane threatening the Caribbean this late in the season is unusual. To follow the storm, go to http://www.intellicast.com/Tropical/World/UnitedStates/HurTrack2/ http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/at199914.html
