Heavy rains were forecast to start late Friday in Antigua and Barbuda, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and southern and eastern Puerto Rico.

Tropical Storm Erin has begun strengthening as it streaks west across the Atlantic and is on track to reach hurricane status as soon as Friday, prompting tropical storm watches in the northern Leeward Islands.

Hurricane Erin has strengthened into a Category 3 storm in the Caribbean, with sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to intensify into