Puerto Rico and parts of the Dominican Republic were under a hurricane warning Sunday as Tropical Storm Irene gained strength. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its 11 a.m. update that Irene was picking up steam as it marched northward and could become a hurricane by Monday. The storm was packing 50 mile-per-hour winds and heavy rains Sunday. It was expected to pass through Puerto Rico Sunday night and the north coast of the Dominican Republic Monday, UPI reported. Hurricane watches were in effect for Haiti and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Elsewhere, there was no change in the status of tropical depression Harvey, which was bringing downpours to southeastern Mexico Sunday. The Pacific cyclone known as Greg was on its last legs off Mexico's coast Sunday. The storm was well out to sea and expected to disappear in the next few days.
