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Fay hits Bermuda, and new storm threatens to become hurricane

 
This NOAA satellite image taken Sunday at 1:45 a.m. shows Tropical Storm Fay off the Carolina Coast just south of Bermuda. [Associated Press]
This NOAA satellite image taken Sunday at 1:45 a.m. shows Tropical Storm Fay off the Carolina Coast just south of Bermuda. [Associated Press]
Published Oct. 13, 2014

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Hurricane Fay toppled utility poles and knocked out power to 27,000 customers in Bermuda before moving out over open ocean on Sunday, just as a new storm raced toward the eastern rim of the Caribbean, threatening to become a hurricane.

Fay strengthened into a hurricane Sunday afternoon with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph but was expected to return to tropical storm strength, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Gonzalo was centered roughly 125 miles east of Guadeloupe on Sunday afternoon and was expected to pick up strength as it moved toward Puerto Rico, according to the center.

Tracking west at about 12 mph, forecasters said Gonzalo could reach hurricane strength by the time it hit Puerto Rico's southern coastline Tuesday. Forecasters expect Gonzalo to curve over the open Atlantic and stay away from the U.S. East Coast.

Storm warnings and watches were issued for a number of Caribbean locales, including the French dependency of Guadeloupe, the Dutch Caribbean territory of St. Maarten, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

As the wind began to pick up under partly blue skies on Sunday, Caribbean residents wary of a possible blow from the approaching tropical storm stocked up on fuel and groceries and pulled boats ashore or moored them at marinas.

From Puerto Rico, the U.S. Coast Guard warned people to avoid the ocean and stay away from shoreline rocks starting at noon today. "Tropical Storm Gonzalo is developing quickly," said Guard Capt. Robert Warren.