Caribbean prepares for new hurricane

Hurricane Maria headed toward the eastern Caribbean early this morning with forecasters predicting it probably would be a major storm taking it near many of the islands wrecked by Hurricane Irma and on to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Hurricane warnings were posted for Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat and Martinique.

A tropical storm warning was issued for Antigua and Barbuda, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Lucia.

Maria could make a direct hit on Puerto Rico, and officials had prepared about 450 shelters with a capacity for nearly 68,000 people _ or even 125,000 in an emergency.

Schools were cancelled for Monday and government employees would work only a half day.

Officials in the Dominican Republic urged people to leave areas prone to flooding.

Meanwhile,

Hurricane Jose continued to head northward off the U.S. East Coast, causing dangerous surf and rip currents. It wasn't expected to make landfall but tropical storm watches were posted along the coast from Delaware to Massachusetts' Cape Cod.