Katia quickly strengthens to Cat. 2
Posted: 09/04/2011
MIAMI (AP) - The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Katia has strengthened to a Category 2 storm in the open Atlantic.
There are still no watches and warnings in effect and it's too soon to know if it will threaten land. Forecasters warned that Bermuda could begin seeing strong surf and rip currents this week.
At 5 p.m. EDT Sunday, the storm's center was about 365 miles (590 km) northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands and moving northwest at 12 mph (19 kph).
It had sustained maximum winds that jumped up to 105 mph (165 kph) after wavering earlier in the morning between a tropical storm and weak hurricane status.
Forecasters expect Katia to strengthen further and said it could be a major hurricane by Monday.
Copyright Associated Press
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