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Hurricane Irma Moves West As Strong Category 4

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Hurricane warnings have been issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands as Hurricane Irma continues moving west.

The National Hurricane Center is urging those in the warning area to complete their preparations as soon as possible.

At 11 p.m., the center of the Category 4 hurricane was about 410 miles East of the Leeward Islands.

Related: How To Prep For A Possible Hurricane Irma Hit

The storm was moving to the west at 13 mph with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph with higher gusts.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.

Irma's current general motion is expected to continue into Tuesday, followed by a turn toward the west-northwestward late Tuesday.

On the forecast track, the center of Irma will move near or over portions of the northern Leeward Islands Tuesday night and early Wednesday.

Strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Nevis
* Saba, St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
* Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy
* British Virgin Islands
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Guadeloupe

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Guadeloupe

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Dominica

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

Related: Florida Gov. Declares State Of Emergency Over Hurricane Irma

Irma is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 3 to 6 inches across the Leeward Islands, with isolated maximum amounts of 10 inches across the northern Leeward Islands. These rainfall amounts may cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large breaking waves will raise water levels by as much as 6 to 9 feet above normal tide levels along the coasts of the extreme northern Leeward Islands within the hurricane warning area near and to the north of the center of Irma.  Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

People in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the southeastern Bahamas should monitor the progress of Irma.

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