by Telegraph Reporters, The Telegraph, September 8, 2017
Attempts by emergency services to reach Caribbean island communities devastated by Hurricane Irma could be hampered by a second major storm threatening the region.
According to the United Nations, up to 37 million people could be affected by the historic hurricane that has left at least 10 dead and thousands homeless.
Irma, a category-five hurricane, is expected to have passed over the Caribbean by Friday. However, Hurricane Jose is expected to follow a similar path when it arrives over the weekend.
Jose has gained in strength and intensified into an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale, the US National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory on Friday.
Jose is about 435 miles (700 km) east-southeast of the Northern Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour (240 kmph), the Miami-based weather forecaster said.
Hurricane Irma batters the Caribbean, in pictures
Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: "Jose is currently forecast to follow a similar track initially to Irma, moving westwards in the Atlantic and to the north and east of the Caribbean where the hurricane was on Wednesday."
While Irma has followed a path expected to take it toward the US state of Florida, Jose is expected to swing back out into the Atlantic after grazing Puerto Rico on Saturday night.
Mr Dewhurst said: "It may not make landfall and its outer edge may only reach land. Either way there may be a risk of strong winds and rain for the north east of the Caribbean.
"Obviously Jose coming in could hamper the clearing-up process."
While the Caribbean faces the possibility of being affected by a second major hurricane, Mexico is braced for the arrival of Hurricane Katia.
The category-one storm was headed for coast of Veracruz state where it expected to make landfall on Friday evening.
At a glance | Atlantic hurricane names 2017
This article was written by Telegraph Reporters from The Telegraph and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.
Related Stories
Airports Begin to Reopen After Irma; Seats Added for Evacuation
Hurricane Irma Cruise Updates: Ports Close, RCL Evacuates
Hurricane Irma Kills Four in U.S. Virgin Islands; Fire and Police Stations Collapse in St. Thomas