Miami/Mexico City - A new hurricane formed in the Caribbean overnight Tuesday, with wind speeds of around 120 kilometres per hour.

Hurricane Omar was expected to reach the northern islands of the Antilles on Wednesday and the Leeward Islands by Thursday, meteorologists at the US Hurricane Centre in Miami said.

Hurricane warnings have been issued on the Virgin Islands, St Kitts and Nevis and in Puerto Rico. The hurricane centre also said the hurricane may strengthen as it sweeps in a north-easterly direction across the islands in the Atlantic. (dpa)