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Tropical Storm Jose forms in the Atlantic

Tropical Storm Jose forms in the Atlantic
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(RNN) – Tropical Storm Jose formed in the Atlantic, making it the 10th named storm of the season.

Jose has 40 mph winds and moving 13 mph west-northwest. The storm isn’t near land, so no warnings are in effect.

However, Jose is coming behind Hurricane Irma, a dangerous Category 5 hurricane that the National Hurricane Center is calling “potentially catastrophic.” It's still unclear how Irma will affect the United States, though Florida is bracing for a possible hit.

Irma is forecast to hit the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico later this week. The storm is moving at 14 mph with 150 mph sustained winds and gusts up to 180 mph.

The powerful hurricane could produce 10 inches of rain, cause flash floods and landslides, and create waves up to 23 feet.

"The decisions that we make in the next couple of hours can make the difference between life and death," Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello told the Associated Press. "This is an extremely dangerous storm."

A hurricane warning is in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, Saba, St. Eustatius, Saint Maarten, Saint Martin, Saint Barthelemy, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra.

A hurricane watch is in effect for Guadeloupe, the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the northern border with Haiti, Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Le Mole St. Nicholas, Turks and Caicos Islands and Southeastern Bahamas.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Guadeloupe and Dominica, as well as the Dominican Republic from south of Cabo Engao to Isla Saona and for Haiti from south of Le Mole St. Nicholas to Port-Au-Prince.

Florida is currently preparing for the possibility of Irma. Gov. Rick Scott has already declared a state of emergency to give counties and cities time to prepare.

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