Forecasters say Hurricane Gonzalo formed in the eastern Caribbean Monday and its winds are buffeting the island of Antigua, downing trees, knocking out power and tearing roofs from homes.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Monday that Gonzalo is packing sustained winds of 85 mph.

The storm gained strength as it passed through the Leeward Islands on a track toward the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and to the east of Puerto Rico, now as a hurricane.

Over the weekend, Tropical Storm Fay knocked out power to thousands in Bermuda before moving out over open ocean.

Hurricane Gonzalo Advisory

11 p.m. — Gonzalo continues to strengthen, expected to pass northeast of the Virgin Islands overnight.

Watches and Warnings

Changes with this advisory:

The government of St. Maarten has replaced the Hurricane Warning for St. Maarten with a Tropical Storm Warning.

The Hurricane Watch for Puerto Rico, Culebra, Vieques and St. Croix has been discontinued.

The government of Antigua and Barbuda has discontinued the Tropical Storm Warning for Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis.

The government of the Netherlands Antilles has discontinued the Tropical Storm Warning for Saba and St. Eustatius.

Summary of watches and warnings in effect:

A hurricane warning is in effect for the following areas:

*British Virgin Islands
*St. Martin
*Anguilla

A hurricane watch is in effect for the following areas:
*St. Thomas and St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the following areas:

*St. Barthelemy
*St. Maarten
*Puerto Rico
*Vieques
*Culebra
*U.S. Virgin Islands

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

Discussion and 48-hour outlook

At 11 p.m., the center of Hurricane Gonzalo was located near latitude 18.7 north, longitude 63.4 west. Gonzalo is moving toward the northwest near 12 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue through early Wednesday. A turn toward the north-northwest is forecast by late Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Gonzalo will pass just northeast of the Virgin Islands overnight tonight and move into the open Atlantic Ocean north of Puerto Rico on Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 85 mph, with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Gonzalo could become a major hurricane by Wednesday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.

The latest minimum central pressure measured by the aircraft was 984 mb, or 29.06 inches.

Hazards affecting land

Wind: Hurricane conditions will continue to spread through the hurricane warning area tonight and early Tuesday. Hurricane conditions are possibly within the hurricane watch area tonight and early Tuesday. Tropical storm conditionsare expected to spread through portions of the tropical storm warning area tonight and early Tuesday.

Rainfall: Gonzalo is expected to produce rainfall total accumulations of 4 to 8 inches, with isolated maximum totals of 12 inches possible, across the Leeward Islands and the British and U.S. Virgin Islands. Gonzalo is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 3 to 5 inches across Puerto Rico, with isolated maximum totals of 8 inches possible.

Surf: Swells generated by Gonzalo will affect the Leeward Islands from Dominica, northward, and the Virgin Islands, and will reach the northern coast of Puerto Rico tonight. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Next advisory

Complete advisory: 5 a.m.