MIAMI, United States – Tropical Storm Fiona is gathering strength as it approaches the northern Leeward islands and several Caribbean countries continue to warn residents to monitor its passage today.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said that Fiona with winds of 60 miles per hour was located 70 miles north east of Barbuda.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for St Martin and St Barthelemy while Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, St Maarten, Saba and St Eustatius have issued a tropical storm warning for their respective countries.

“Interest elsewhere in the northern Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of Fiona,” the NHC said, adding that at 8.00 am local time, the center of the storm was located to be near latitude 18.1 north, longitude 60.9 west.

“Fiona is moving towards the west-northwest near 15 miles per hour. A gradual turn towards the northwest is expected to occur later today. On the forecast track, the center of Fiona should pass near or just north of the northernmost Leeward Islands later this morning and afternoon”.

The NHC said that some slight strengthening is possible during the next 24 hours “followed by little change in intensity after that”.

Tropical Storm Fiona is not a threat to Jamaica.