Hurricane Isabel continues west towards Leeward Islands

MIAMI (AFP) Sep 10, 2003
Powerful Hurricane Isabel moved west across the Atlantic Ocean Wednesday towards the Caribbean Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico with winds gusting at up to 215 kilometers an hour (134 miles an hour), according to the National Hurricane Center here.

The center of the storm was was located 1,205 kilometers (749 miles) to the east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands at 1500 GMT.

If Isabel continues its current path, it could reach seas to the north of Puerto Rico by Sunday, according to NHC forecasts.

US meteorologists believe it's possible the Category 4 hurricane could well affect the United States coastline.

Isabel is moving west at 19 kilometers an hour (12 miles an hour) and "is expected to maintain this path for the next 24 hours," according to Miami-based NHC meteorologist Stacy Stewart.

TERRA.WIRE