BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Tropical storm force winds are expected to begin affecting the Leeward Islands late Tuesday as Hurricane Irma moves closer towards the chain of islands in the Eastern Caribbean on Monday.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said that the storm, packing winds of 115 miles per hour (mph) was locate about 625 miles east of the Leeward Islands and that hurricane watches have gone into effect for  Antigua and Barbuda Anguilla, Montserrat, St Kitts-Nevis, Saba, St Eustatius,  Sint Maarten, Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy.

The NHC said that interests in the remainder of the Leeward Islands, the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic should monitor the progress of Irma.

“Additional hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings will likely be required for portions of this area later today,” it added.

Education officials have also announced a delay in the re-opening of schools that had been scheduled for Monday.

In Antigua and Barbuda, the Ministry of Education has ordered that all public educational institutions be closed Monday and Tuesday with Education Minister Michael Browne, saying the “delayed opening” is due to the evolving uncertainty of the path of Hurricane Irma which is now a Category 3 system.

The authorities have urged residents to take all “necessary action to secure life and property and urge all to prepare for any eventuality.”

The NHC said that in its latest bulletin at 5:00 am (local time) that Hurricane Irma was moving towards the west-southwest near 14 mph.

“A turn toward the west is expected later today, followed by a west-north westward turn late Tuesday.  On the forecast track, the centre of Irma will move closer to the Leeward Islands through Tuesday and then be near the northern Leeward Islands Tuesday night.”