A flash flood watch was called and remains in effect for the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and much of the region as the first weather system of the 2011 season brought heavy rain to parts of the Caribbean Sunday.

The National Weather Service put the watch into effect at 2 p.m. Sunday It will remain in effect until noon Tuesday.

The step was taken in response to the formation of Invest 94L, a large tropical disturbance that dropped several inches of rain on Jamaica over the weekend, and had wind gusts of 24 to 30 miles per hour. The system was not expected to develop into a tropical depression but the National Weather Service warned that very heavy rainfall could continue to fall. The alert calling for the flash flood watch said four to six inches of rain could fall in the territory through Monday.

"Total rainfall accumulations through Tuesday afternoon are likely to exceed 10 inches of rain especially across southeast Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands," the Weather Service cautioned.

The weather system is expected to move off to the north or northwest as the week continues, bringing heavy rains to Cuba and Haiti.

The flood watch statement urged resident "to continue to be aware of the possibility for heavy rainfall. Avoid low lying areas and be careful when approaching highway dips and underpasses.