Hurricane Fred lashes Cape Verde Islands
Winds, which Miami-based center said could be significantly stronger, are expected to cause a storm
MIAMI (AFP) - Hurricane Fred, the second of the Atlantic season, lashed the Cape Verde Islands with strong wind and heavy rain Monday that could spawn life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, US forecasters said.
Packing winds of up to 85 miles per hour (140 kilometers per hour), the eye of the storm was expected to pass near or over the northwestern part of the archipelago off the West African coast within hours, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The winds, which the Miami-based center said could be significantly stronger in higher elevations, are expected to cause a storm surge "accompanied by large and dangerous waves" near the coast.
Fred, a category one hurricane on the five-point Saffir-Simpson scale, also could dump up to 10 inches of rain on the islands, causing dangerous conditions, according to the forecasters.
"These rains could produce life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides," they warned.
Fred is expected to weaken gradually starting Tuesday as it moves further out to sea.
It is the second hurricane of the Atlantic season. Earlier this month, Hurricane Danny caused a tropical storm across a handful of popular Caribbean destinations but was downgraded to a tropical depression before it could do much damage.
Just days ago, tropical storm Erika left at least 20 people dead and dozens missing as it swept over the tiny Caribbean island nation of Dominica.
The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, sees peak activity in September.
But experts have said there was a 90 percent chance this year s season would be less active than usual.
