Hurricane Earl Gaining Strength

Hurricane Earl continues to pick up more power in the Atlantic Ocean, with winds whipping at about 105 mph and forcing even stronger gusts.

As of Monday morning, the Category 2 hurricane was centered east of Puerto Rico, about 50 miles east-northeast of St. Martin, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. It was headed west-northwest at about 15 mph.

Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Leeward Islands could get up to eight inches of rain and as much as 12 inches in isolated areas with higher elevations, the hurricane center said. "These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides," the center said.

Earl is expected to gain more force and "become a major hurricane," by late Monday or early Tuesday, the weather agency said.

Storm surging is expected to raise water levels by up to four feet above ground level in the hurricane warning area, the weather agency said. The surge "will be accompanied by large and dangerous battering waves," according to the hurricane center.

A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning are in effect for Puerto Rico.

Earl could impact the entire East Coast over the Labor Day weekend.