Hurricane Danielle Could Bring Dangerous Rip Currents to US

Hurricane Danielle remained far out over the Atlantic on Saturday, but the Category 2 storm is still expected to bring dangerous rip currents to the U.S. East Coast.

Danielle's maximum sustained winds were near 110 mph. It is about 320 miles southeast of Bermuda and is forecast to pass east of the island Saturday.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm is expected to remain about the same strength for the next day but gradually begin weakening Sunday. It said large waves and dangerous surf conditions are expected in Bermuda, where a tropical storm watch has been issued.

Farther out in the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Earl has maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. It could strengthen into a hurricane by Saturday night. A tropical storm watch was in effect for several islands in the eastern Caribbean, including St. Maarten, Antigua and Montserrat.

Rip currents form as waves travel from deep to shallow water, they eventually break near the shoreline. As waves break, they generate currents that flow in both the offshore (away from the coast) and the alongshore directions. The currents flowing away from the coast are called rip currents.