Tropical Storm Jerry is expected to become the fifth hurricane of the year this week as it heads toward the northern Leeward Islands, National Hurricane Center forecasters said Wednesday morning.

As of 7 a.m. Wednesday, Jerry was 835 miles east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands and was producing maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. Jerry was moving west-northwest at 23 mph, according to the NHC.

Jerry is not a threat to Louisiana or the Gulf Coast, but topical storm watches were in effect for several Caribbean islands Wednesday.

Forecasters said those in the northern Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands should monitor Jerry's development as it brings tropical storm-force weather to the region.

Jerry's development is expected to be modest over the next 24 hours

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