New Tropical Storm Seems to Be No Threat to Land
Tropical Storm Maria formed Friday out in the open Atlantic, but it posed no threat to land, forecasters said.
The 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season had top sustained winds of 50 mph, up from 40 mph earlier Friday. Its center was about 1,070 miles southeast of Bermuda. It was moving toward the northwest at about 12 mph.
“It should stay out in the open Atlantic,” said Lixion Avila of the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Maria has the potential to reach hurricane strength -- sustained winds of at least 74 mph -- today, forecasters said.
This has been one of the busiest hurricane seasons on record. Historically, only about four or five named storms form by this time of year, according to the hurricane center.
The tropics are shifting into high gear. The peak storm activity typically occurs through mid-September.
The season began June 1 and ends Nov. 30.
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