Sixth named storm of season forms far out in open Atlantic
MIAMI, USA (AP) – Tropical Storm Florence formed yesterday in the open Atlantic, becoming the sixth named storm of the 2006 hurricane season, and was likely to grow.
Florence had top sustained wind near 64 kph (40 mph), 1.61 kilometres (1 mph) over the 24.23 miles (39 mph) threshold for a tropical storm, and it was expected to slowly intensify to hurricane strength, according to the National Hurricane Centre.
“Our forecast does have it becoming a hurricane by Friday morning – minimal hurricane, Category 1,” said Mark Willis, a meteorologist at the hurricane centre.
Hurricanes have sustained wind of at least 119.09 kilometres (74 mph); Category 1 storms have top sustained wind of up to 152.88 kilometres (95 mph).
It was still too early to tell if it would hit the United States, Willis said.
At 3:00 yesterday afternoon, the storm was centred 1,505 kilometres (935 miles) east of the Lesser Antilles and was moving west at about 19 kph (12 mph), forecasters said. Its tropical storm-force wind extended 185.07 kilometres (115 miles) from its centre.
