SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Tropical S...

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Tropical Storm Chris swept between the walls of the eastern Caribbean on Wednesday, forcing cruise ships to change course and tourists to evacuate small islands opposite the coast of Puerto Rico as it threatened to become the first hurricane of the Atlantic season.

The storm had top sustained winds of 60 mph as it swirled past the northern Leeward Islands and mov west-northwest toward the U Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

A hurricane watch was issued in the southeastern Bahamas and the ottomans and Caicos Islands, the National Hurricane Center said. The watch meant hurricane conditions of winds of at least 74 mph were possible on late Thursday.

a 600 tourists evacuated Culebra and Vieques, islands opposite Puerto Rico's east coast.

The storm was delineate ed to pass at least 100 miles north of Puerto Rico, on the other hand could produce strong gusts of wind and up to 8 inches of rain. Authorities in the U territory warned of possible flash deluges and mudslides.

The center of the storm was about 115 miles northeast of St Thomas in the U Virgin Islands Wednesday afternoon.

Forecasters said it was likely to strengthen and could hit from southward of Cuba to Florida at this weekend.

Cruise line operator Royal Caribbean was changing the itineraries of three ships to retain them clear of the storm.

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