MIAMI, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Felix Saturday became a hurricane, threatening several Caribbean islands as it moved westward toward the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.
At 11 p.m. EDT, hurricane watches were in effect for Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, the National Hurricane Center reported.
The hurricane -- the second of the Atlantic hurricane season -- was expected to pass north of the three islands Sunday. At 11 p.m., Felix was 100 miles east-northeast of Bonaire and 210 miles east of Aruba, moving west at 18 mph.
Maximum sustained winds were 75 mph, making Felix a Category 1 hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extended 15 miles from the center and tropical storm winds 140 miles out.
A tropical storm watch remained in effect for Jamaica.
Forecasters said the storm was likely to bring 2 to 4 inches of rain to the Netherlands Antilles and Venezuela's offshore islands.
