Hurricane Danny strengthens to Category 3, nears Caribbean

Doyle Rice | USA TODAY

Danny's winds strengthened to 115 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane as it spins toward the Caribbean, the National Hurricane Center said Friday.

The storm is "likely at is peak intensity" now, as it's expected to weaken over the next couple of days.

The hurricane is a "major" hurricane, which is defined as any storm of Category 3, 4 or 5 strength. A crew aboard a "hurricane hunter" aircraft, which flew into the storm, confirmed the hurricane's strength Friday afternoon.

As of 5 p.m. ET, Danny was located 860 miles east of the Caribbean's Leeward Islands and was slowly moving to the west-northwest at 10 mph. On its current track, the storm will move across islands such as Guadeloupe, Montserrat, and Antigua and Barbuda by Monday.

Danny should "weaken below hurricane strength as it approaches the Caribbean islands," the hurricane center said. The storm could actually deliver needed rain to many of the parched Caribbean islands, including Puerto Rico, much of which is in a drought.

Despite its wind speeds, "Danny is a tiny hurricane," the hurricane center said. "Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 60 miles."

Meanwhile, in the central Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Kilo formed Friday morning. Kilo has maximum winds of 40 mph and is about 720 miles southeast of Honolulu. It's forecast to strengthen into a hurricane and potentially threaten parts of Hawaii by early next week, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.