Forecasters Watching Tropical Storm Katia

Tropical Storm Katia, moving west- northwest across the Atlantic Ocean, is likely to strengthen into a hurricane soon, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

Katia, 1,285 miles east of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean, had maximum winds near 70 mph, up from 65 mph earlier today, the NHC said in an advisory at about 4:40 p.m. East Coast time. The storm, which will become a hurricane when its winds reach 74 mph, is traveling at 20 mph on a path that will take it to waters northeast of Puerto Rico on Sept. 4, the Miami-based center said.

“Katia could become a major hurricane by the upcoming weekend as it passes north of the Lesser Antilles,” said Brian Edwards, a meteorologist for private forecaster AccuWeather in State College, PA.

Katia is the 11th named storm of this Atlantic Hurrican Season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. The NHC says the average hurricane season usually produces that many in total.