This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6976114.stm

The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Central America braced for Felix Central America braced for Felix
(about 5 hours later)
Central America is preparing for a battering by Hurricane Felix, which has grown to a category five storm as it churns through the Caribbean. Hurricane Felix has weakened to a category four storm as it churns through the Caribbean but could strengthen again, forecasters warn.
Honduras expects to be hit on Tuesday and has issued a hurricane warning for some coastal areas. Hundreds of people have been evacuated from the Honduras coastline, where the storm is expected to hit on Tuesday before raking Belize on Wednesday.
With wind speeds now up to 270km/h (165mph), correspondents say Felix is well above the minimum force for a category five storm. Experts downgraded the storm from category five after its wind speeds dipped to 230km/h (145mph).
It comes just two weeks after Hurricane Dean killed 18 people in the region.It comes just two weeks after Hurricane Dean killed 18 people in the region.
Meanwhile there are concerns over Tropical Storm Henriette, which caused landslides in the Mexican city of Acapulco that killed six people. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said Felix had weakened but warned it could easily regain its strength.
The centre said the storm could dump up to 30cm (12in) of rain in isolated parts of northern Honduras and north-eastern Nicaragua, possibly bringing flash floods and mudslides.
Belize prepares
Meanwhile, there are concerns over Tropical Storm Henriette, which caused landslides in the Mexican city of Acapulco that killed six people.
View path of Hurricane Felix in more detailEnlarge Map
Forecasters fear the storm could become a hurricane and threaten Mexico's Baja California peninsula on Tuesday.Forecasters fear the storm could become a hurricane and threaten Mexico's Baja California peninsula on Tuesday.
The Atlantic hurricane season is expected to peak on 10 September.The Atlantic hurricane season is expected to peak on 10 September.
Belize prepares By 1800 GMT on Monday, Felix was 490 km (305 miles) east of the border between Nicaragua and Honduras and moving westwards at 33km/h (21mph).
By 1200 GMT on Monday, Felix was about 425km (260 miles) south of Kingston, Jamaica, moving in a westerly direction at 33km/h (21mph), the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said.
But despite the hurricane being extremely powerful, winds are confined relatively close to the eye, says BBC broadcast meteorologist John Hammond.But despite the hurricane being extremely powerful, winds are confined relatively close to the eye, says BBC broadcast meteorologist John Hammond.
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_enl_1188825727/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_enl_1188825727/html/1.stm', '1188825772', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=416,height=378,left=312,top=100'); return false;">View path of Hurricane Felix in more detail href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_enl_1188825727/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_enl_1188825727/html/1.stm', '1188825772', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=416,height=378,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Map Hundreds of tourists have been evacuated from the islands of Honduras ahead of the storm.
Jamaica was under tropical storm watch as it held parliamentary elections, already postponed after a near miss with Hurricane Dean. But in Belize people are already said to be stocking up on emergency supplies and boarding up windows.
But though there had already been some heavy rain, widespread damage was thought to be unlikely.
Felix is expected to hit Honduras before moving on to Belize and Mexico's Yucatan peninsula by Wednesday.
As yet Honduras has made no effort to evacuate residents, but in Belize people are already said to be stocking up on emergency supplies and boarding up windows.
On Sunday, thousands of tourists and residents on Aruba and two of the Netherlands Antilles islands near Venezuela - Bonaire and Curacao - were forced to take shelter as Felix struck, but damage appeared slight.On Sunday, thousands of tourists and residents on Aruba and two of the Netherlands Antilles islands near Venezuela - Bonaire and Curacao - were forced to take shelter as Felix struck, but damage appeared slight.
The sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Felix ruined orchards and demolished a concert venue when it hit Grenada on Saturday. The sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Felix demolished a concert venue when it hit Grenada on Saturday.
There have been no casualties, but there are reports that one person is missing in Venezuela.There have been no casualties, but there are reports that one person is missing in Venezuela.
Are you worried about Hurricane Felix? Are you in any of the countries in its path? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below:
Are you worried about Hurricane Felix? Are you in any of the countries in its path? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below:
You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100
Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and videoClick here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video
When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Name:
 Name: