Hurricane Earl poses threat to Caribbean; LIAT cancels flights

Hurricane Earl began affecting the Northern Leeward islands in the Caribbean on Monday and the U.S. National Hurricane Center is expecting the first major storm of the hurricane season to get stronger by Monday night or early Tuesday.

Earl's winds were recorded at 105 miles per hour (169 kph), which puts it as a Category 2 hurricane.

"Hurricane conditions are now spreading into the Northern Leeward Islands and will spread westward into the Virgin Islands later today," the hurricane center said in its 5 a.m. advisory.

Hurricane warnings are in effect throughout the Caribbean, including the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda and the British overseas territories of Montserrat and Anguilla.

Earl is also expected to affect Puerto Rico on Monday.

Caribbean airline LIAT canceled 41 flights to several destinations in the eastern Caribbean Monday and has shut down its reservation service because of Earl's approach.