Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands have issued heavy rain and flash flooding warnings as Tropical Storm Karen churned slowly across the southeastern Caribbean Sea towards the region.

The National Hurricane Centre described the storm as “disorganised” as it sustained winds of 40 mph (64 kph) while around 180 miles (290 kilometres) west of St Vincent. The storm was moving northwest at 8 mph (13 kph), according to the centre.

A tropical storm watch was also in effect for the British Virgin Islands.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Jerry is 355 miles (570 kilometres) away from Bermuda with top sustained winds of 65 mph (105 kph). It’s moving at 9 mph, according to the National Hurricane Centre.

The centre also said that tropical storm-force winds are possible in Bermuda, where it was expected to pass late on Tuesday night.

"Huge damage" as record Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas: In pictures Show all 15 1 /15 "Huge damage" as record Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas: In pictures "Huge damage" as record Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas: In pictures A road is flooded during the passing of Hurricane Dorian in Freeport, Grand Bahama. AP "Huge damage" as record Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas: In pictures Hurricane Dorian's eye taken by Nasa astronaut Nick Hague, from aboard the International Space Station. The station orbits more than 200 miles above the Earth. Hurricane Dorian, which made landfall on the Bahamas as category 5 and now reclassified as category 4, is expected to continue on its projected path towards the Florida coast. Nasa/EPA "Huge damage" as record Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas: In pictures Buildings damaged by Hurricane Dorian are swept by deep floodwater in the Abaco Islands in The Bahamas. Latrae Rahming "Huge damage" as record Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas: In pictures Tropical Storm Dorian as it approached the Bahamas. NOAA/AFP/Getty "Huge damage" as record Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas: In pictures Strong winds blow the tops of trees while whisking up water from the surface of a canal that leads to the sea in Freeport, Grand Bahama AP "Huge damage" as record Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas: In pictures A woman walks in a flooded street after the effects of Hurricane Dorian arrived in Nassau, Bahamas. REUTERS "Huge damage" as record Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas: In pictures Uprooted trees, fallen power lines and debris scatter a road as Hurricane Dorian sweeps through Marsh Harbour in The Bahamas Ramond A King via Reuters "Huge damage" as record Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas: In pictures Buildings damaged by Hurricane Dorian are swept by deep floodwater in the Abaco Islands in The Bahamas Latrae Rahming "Huge damage" as record Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas: In pictures A building is strewn with debris after its roof was torn off by Hurricane Dorian in the Abaco Islands in The Bahamas Latrae Rahming "Huge damage" as record Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas: In pictures Uprooted trees, fallen power lines and debris scatter a road as Hurricane Dorian sweeps through Marsh Harbour in The Bahamas Ramond A King via Reuters "Huge damage" as record Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas: In pictures Hurricane Dorian is pictured from a plane flying inside the eye of the storm Garrett Black/US Air Force "Huge damage" as record Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas: In pictures Inmates from a Florida jail fill sandbags to hand out to residents ahead of Hurricane Dorian in Cocoa, Florida on September 1 EPA "Huge damage" as record Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas: In pictures Residents stock up at Wal-Mart in preparation for Hurricane Dorian in Orlando, Florida Getty "Huge damage" as record Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas: In pictures A shop is boarded-up ahead of Hurricane Dorian in Cocoa, Florida on September 1 Reuters "Huge damage" as record Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas: In pictures Waves batter a pier in Marsh Harbour in The Bahamas on September 1e Mark Hall vie Reuters

Tropical Storm Karen was forecast to approach Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands on Tuesday, though it remains unclear how much damage those islands could face.

The storm was buffeting parts of the southern Windward Islands with high winds and heavy rain over the weekend, spreading blustery winds and flooding rains.

Karen formed on Sunday, becoming the 11th named storm of the current Atlantic hurricane season.

On Sunday afternoon, the storm’s centre was located just 60 miles (95 kilometres) north of Grenada, where tropical storm warnings were in effect throughout the weekend.

The hurricane centre says it expects the storm to change little in strength over the coming days.

A tropical storm warning was also in effect for Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

Forecasters said the tropical storm could eventually turn into a hurricane after passing over Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands and possibly stalling over the western Atlantic mid-week.