Tropical Storm Maria forms and targets already battered islands

The hurricane-battered islands of the Caribbean are facing yet another storm threat: Forecasters said Sunday that Tropical Storm Maria is likely to hit the Leeward Islands as a strengthening hurricane on Tuesday.

Hurricane watches were in effect for many of the very islands still trying to cope with the devastation left by Hurricane Irma, including St. Martin, St. Barts and Antigua and Barbuda.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph) Sunday morning. It was centered about 410 miles (655 kilometers) east-southwest of the Lesser Antilles and was heading west-northwest at 15 mph (24 kph).