Tropical Storm Florence swirled westward across the Atlantic on Sunday, and forecasters said it will strengthen into a major hurricane that could hit the East Coast toward the end of the week.
Florence is expected to become a major hurricane by Monday, National Hurricane Centre said. Miami-based centre defines a major hurricane as one with wind speed greater than 110 mph.
A “rapid intensification” was expected to begin Sunday. At 5 am EDT, Florence’s maximum sustained winds were estimated at 70 mph. The storm was centered about 1,235 kms southeast of Bermuda and moving west at 6 mph. It is forecast to approach the southeastern US coast on Thursday.
The hurricane center said it was still too early to predict its exact path. But forecasters said that the risk of “direct impacts continues to increase” and that a huge coastal area from northern Florida to North Carolina should prepare for a major hit.