MIAMI, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Tropical storm Jeanne sloshed ashore at Puerto Rico Wednesday, bringing 70 mph winds and at least seven inches of rain to the island.
The National Hurricane Center at Miami said total rainfall could reach 8-12 inches.
"These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides," forecaster Jack Beven said.
At 5 p.m. EDT, Jeanne was centered near latitude 18.4 north, longitude 65.5 west or about 25 miles west of San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was moving west-northwest at 9 mph.
On that track, the center of Jeanne should move off the northwestern coast of Puerto Rico Wednesday night and near the northern coast of the Dominican Republic Thursday.
Tropical storm force winds extend up to 70 miles from the center of Jeanne, which is also expected to bring storm surge flooding of 1 to 3 feet above normal, and rainfall of 8 to 12 inches.
Hurricane warning flags were flying in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabreera south to Isla Saona.
