Hurricane Jose has weakened but will linger over Atlantic for days
Jose is expected to generate high surfs and further complicate relief efforts after Irma wreaked devastation in the Caribbean.
Monday 11 September 2017 13:16, UK
Hurricane Jose is lingering in the Atlantic as a category three hurricane, amid fears it could affect parts of the US east coast later this week.
The storm, which is currently 255 miles northeast of Grand Turk Island in the Caribbean, is already complicating efforts to relieve the devastation brought about by Hurricane Irma.
According to the National Hurricane Centre, Jose is packing winds of 105mph - and its looping path in the western Atlantic Ocean could generate high surf and rip currents.
"Swells generated by Jose will affect portions of Hispaniola, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands over the next couple of days," the National Hurricane Centre said.
"These swells are likely to produce high surf and rip current conditions."
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Hurricane Jose had threatened some of the areas in the Caribbean, like St Martin and the Virgin Islands, that were battered by Irma only days ago.
It headed out to sea causing little additional damage, and was recently downgraded from a category four hurricane.
But while it is expected to bring less than initially feared, Jose has delayed much-needed aid to areas affected by Irma.
At least 26 people were killed as Irma made her destructive trek across Anguilla, Barbuda, the French-Dutch island of St Martin, St Barts, the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.
Among those who died was a two-year-old boy who was swept away when his home filled with water.
Residents have reported shortages of food, water and medicine, and many have complained of looting.
The storm is now moving through the state of Florida, with Tampa braced for a potentially life-threatening storm surge.
Around 5.7 million homes and businesses in the state are without power, and more than 120 homes near Orlando have had to be evacuated from rising floodwaters.