Hurricane Irma Becomes Category 4 Storm

Hurricane Irma became a Category 4 storm Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center, which said "preparations within the warning area should be rushed to completion."

Tropical-storm force winds are expected to arrive in the hurricane warning area by late Tuesday.

Irma is expected to affect the northeastern Leeward Islands as a "dangerous major hurricane," accompanied by life-threatening wind as well as storm surge and rainfall, according to the NHC.

Irma could also directly affect Puerto Rico and the British and U.S. Virgin Islands as a dangerous major hurricane later this week, the NHC said. It said that it's still too early to determine what direct impact Hurricane Irma might have on the continental United States.

Meanwhile, workers in the northeast Caribbean were clearing drains and pruning trees as authorities urged islanders to prepare for the storm.

The possibility that the storm could eventually turn its wrath on the U.S. East Coast has officials of the American Red Cross concerned.

They told CBS Raleigh, North Carolina, affiliate WNCN the need for assistance in Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey is still high, but the Red Cross' focus and resources might shift toward North Carolina, based on what Irma does.

"We put a hold on sending volunteers from the Mid-Atlantic states," Red Cross Regional Executive Officer Barry Porter told WNCN-TV. "There is still a lot of other states to send volunteers from, but because of this pending threat to Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina, we've asked those volunteers to hold, update their records, and help us here in the Carolinas if we need them."

U.S. residents were urged to monitor the storm's progress in case it turns northward toward Florida, Georgia or the Carolinas.

"This hurricane has the potential to be a major event for the East Coast. It also has the potential to significantly strain FEMA and other governmental resources occurring so quickly on the heels of Harvey," Evan Myers, chief operating officer of AccuWeather, said in a statement.

Emergency officials warned that Irma could dump up to 10 inches of rain, unleash landslides and dangerous flash floods and generate waves of up to 23 feet as the storm draws closer.

A hurricane warning was issued for Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Martin, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten and St. Barts.

"We're looking at Irma as a very significant event," Ronald Jackson, executive director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, said by phone. "I can't recall a tropical cone developing that rapidly into a major hurricane prior to arriving in the central Caribbean."

A hurricane watch was in effect for Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, the British and U.S. Virgin islands and Guadeloupe. A tropical storm watch was issued for Dominica.

In the Caribbean, Antigua and Anguilla shuttered schools on Monday, and government office closures were expected to follow.

On the tiny island of Barbuda, hotel manager Andrea Christian closed down the Palm Tree Guest House as Irma approached. She said she was not afraid even though it would be her first time facing a storm of that magnitude.

"We can't do anything about it," Christian said by phone, adding that she had stocked up on food and water. "We just have to wait it out."

The U.S. hurricane center said Irma had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph Monday afternoon. The storm was centered about 530 miles east of the Leeward Islands and was moving west-southwest at 14 mph.

Both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands expect to receive 4 inches to 8 inches of rain and winds of 40-50 mph with gusts of up to 60 mph.

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello warned of flooding and power outages.

"It's no secret that the infrastructure of the Puerto Rico Power Authority is deteriorated," Rossello said. He activated the National Guard, canceled classes for Tuesday and declared a half-day of work.

Meteorologist Roberto Garcia warned that Puerto Rico could experience hurricane-like conditions in the next 48 hours.

"Any deviation, which is still possible, could bring even more severe conditions to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands," Garcia said.

The U.S. Virgin Islands said schools would reopen on Friday instead of Tuesday.

In the Dominican Republic, Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo said workers there were also clearing away roadworks and cleaning out sewer drains and that President Danilo Medina would meet with emergency agencies.