Felix becomes category 2 hurrcane

Hurricane Felix gathered strength early today and became a Category 2 hurricane, the US National Hurricane Center said. It was forecast to pass just north of the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba.

The storm was upgraded from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane yesterday evening, becoming the second Atlantic hurricane of the season.

It had sustained maximum winds of about 100mph.

A tropical storm warning and hurricane watch were in effect for Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.