16:55 02Sep2003 Fierce Fabian headed past Caribbean islands

MIAMI, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Powerful Hurricane Fabian swept through the
Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday on a track that was expected to keep it well north
of the Leeward Islands and away from the Bahamas and the United States.
With 140 mph (225 mph) sustained winds, Fabian was the strongest storm
of the Atlantic hurricane season but was a danger only to ships for the
moment.
At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT), the center of Fabian was located about 200
miles (322 km) north-northeast of Barbuda, a small island in the northern
Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, at latitude 20.3 north and longitude 60.4
west, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
The system, with hurricane-force winds extending 60 miles (97 km) from
the eye, was moving west-northwest at about 10 mph (16 kph) and was expected
to stay on that track for the next day or so, taking it past the northern
Leewards on Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Fabian was expected to create dangerous surf conditions in the Leewards,
the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Tuesday and
Wednesday.
Forecasters predicted the hurricane would gradually curve to the north,
keeping it away from the Bahamas and the U.S. East Coast. The hurricane
center's long-range forecast track had it west of Bermuda late in the week.
Tuesday, 02 September 2003 16:55:50RTRS [nNAJL90201] {C}ENDS