Hurricane dumped heavy rain on Jamaica and the Cayman Islands late Saturday, as it rumbled across the Caribbean with top sustained winds of 155 mph.
At 8 p.m. EDT, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said the center of the Category 4 storm was located about 140 miles southwest of Montego Bay, Jamaica, and about 195 miles southeast of Grand Cayman. Emily was moving toward the west-northwest at about 18 mph -- on a track to move away from Jamaica Saturday night and closer to Grand Cayman Island Saturday night and Sunday morning.
The National Hurricane Center said Emily could become a Category 5 storm at time Saturday night and Sunday.
Forecasters extended a hurricane warning for Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and urged residents in the storm's path to complete "preparations to protect life and property." CNN said Hurricane Emily caused flash floods and mudslides along Jamaica's southern coast Saturday.
The path shows the storm hitting the Gulf Coast south of the U.S.-Mexico border early Wednesday. Mexico has posted a hurricane watch for the eastern and northern coasts of the Yucatan Peninsula and has begun evacuations.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
