Tropical Storm Earl, Hurricane Danielle intensify in Atlantic

WASHINGTON: Tropical Storm Earl, Hurricane Danielle intensify in Atlantic. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said late Wednesday Tropical Storm Earl could reach hurricane-strength in 72 hours as Hurricane Danielle continues to build intensity in the Atlantic Ocean.

The National Hurricane Center upgraded Tropical Storm Earl, the fifth named storm of the Atlantic season, Wednesday night from a Tropical Depression, with winds near 40 miles per hour. It is predicted to reach hurricane-strength in the Atlantic Ocean by Friday as it travels 430 miles west of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands. The center forecasted Earl will likely pose no threat to land in the next five days, and could reach Category two hurricane intensity as it approaches the Caribbean next week.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Danielle, the second hurricane of the season, was spotted continuing west-northwest in the Atlantic with winds increasing from 75 to 85 miles per hour, forecasters said.

Danielle's center was about 710 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, the hurricane center said. The islands run between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

The current season is also expected to be above-normal in the number of storms that form. The U.S. Climate Prediction Center predicted 14 to 20 named storms, above the 11 that develop in an average season. (KUNA)