At 11AM EDT (30/15Z) Hurricane Earl is now a Category III hurricane with sustained winds of 105 knots located 95 miles east northeast of St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. - at 1115AM EDT, St. Thomas was reporting sustained tropical storm force winds with gusts to 47 knots. Earl is moving to the west northwest at 12 knots and should continue to do so for about another 18 hours before moving more toward the northwest. Additional intensification is likely and Earl should become a Category IV hurricane on Tuesday.

Current watches and warnings are as follows:

"A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* ANGUILLA
* SAINT MARTIN AND SAINT BARTHELEMY
* ST. MAARTEN...SABA...AND ST. EUSTATIUS
* BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
* U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
* PUERTO RICAN ISLANDS OF CULEBRA AND VIEQUES

A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* PUERTO RICO

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* ANTIGUA...BARBUDA...MONTSERRAT...ST. KITTS...AND NEVIS
* PUERTO RICO

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS"

ED