Tropical Storm Earl strengthens north of Puerto Rico — posing a hurricane threat this week

Hurricane Danielle and Tropical Storm Earl are not a pressing concern for people on the East Coast of the United States, but the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is warning residents in the U.S. territory that Tropical Storm Earl could cause urban flooding and creeks to spill over their banks Monday. And the storm is expected to become a hurricane as early as Wednesday.

TROPICAL STORM EARL

Tropical Storm Earl is moving north and expected to become a hurricane later this week, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Rapid rises on rivers and mudslides in areas of steep terrain are also possible, especially across the central interior region of Puerto Rico.

Earl is expected to peak in intensity in about four to five days as a Category 3 hurricane.

The storm is expected to produce additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches, with isolated storm totals of 8 inches, across the Leeward Islands, U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico through Monday.

On Sunday, U.S. Coast Guard crews rescued a spear fisherman clinging to rocks in U.S. Virgin Islands waters amid Tropical Storm Earl’s six-foot waves, footage released by the agency showed. A man and a woman riding a personal watercraft Sunday near the Puerto Rican southern town of Salinas died after being struck by lightning, according to the local newspaper Primera Hora.

There were two other rescues that occurred as well. Puerto Rican authorities urged residents to be cautious during the storm.

READ MORE: Watch crews rescue fisherman from Tropical Storm Earl’s waves off U.S. Virgin Islands

HURRICANE DANIELLE

Hurricane Danielle weakened as it headed northeastward over the North Atlantic, but no coastal watches or warnings are in effect. Winds are at 85 mph and continuing to decrease, with a slow weakening forecast for the next several days, according to a 5 p.m. National Hurricane Center advisory. Danielle is then forecast to continue east-northeastward until late this week.

DISTURBANCE OFF THE COAST OF AFRICA

Off the West Coast of Africa, there is a possibility of a disturbance in the coming days, but for now, there is only a 20% chance of cyclone formation in the next 48 hours. Those percentages increase to 50% when looking at the next five days.

You can find more updated information on Atlantic Tropical cyclones and disturbances here. All weather updates are based on the latest information from the National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Miami Herald staff reporter Omar Rodríguez Ortiz contributed to this report.