ATLANTA (AP) — The U.S. East Coast could be hit with a powerful hurricane as Tropical Storm Florence continues to strengthen as it moves toward the mainland, forecasters said Saturday. Florence is expected to become a major hurricane by Monday, the National Hurricane Center said, adding that “a rapid intensification” is forecast to begin Sunday. The storm is forecast to become a “major hurricane” Monday, travel between Bermuda and the Bahamas on Tuesday and Wednesday before approaching the southeastern U.S. coast on Thursday, the Miami-based weather center said. Swells generated by Florence are affecting Bermuda and starting to reach parts of the Eastern Seaboard, the National Weather Service said. At 11 p.m. Eastern time, the hurricane center said Florence’s maximum sustained winds were estimated to be 70 mph (110 kph).

Source: Huffington Post September 09, 2018 03:00 UTC