Tropical Storm Maria Racing West; Katia Weakens

Katia becomes Category 1 storm, on track to go between east coast and Bermuda

A weakened Hurricane Katia is expected to pass between Burmuda and the east coast of the U.S. this evening and Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

But as one threat appears to be diminishing, Tropical Storm Maria was racing westward after forming far out in the Atlantic.

As of the latest NHC advisory at 11 p.m., Maria was moving 23 miles an hour from her position 1,070 miles east-southeast of the Leeward Islands, with maximum sustained winds of 50 miles an hour.

Tropical storm watches were in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, Monserrat, Nevis, and St. Kitts. NHC forecasters urged residents of the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to stay up to date on Maria's movements.

Katia, meanwhile, had maximum sustained winds near 80 mph as it moved northwest at 13 mph about 325 miles southwest of Bermuda.

A tropical storm watch was in effect for Bermuda, as hurricane force winds extended outward up to 70 miles from the storm's center and tropical storm force winds extended up to 205 miles.

Katia is a Category 1 hurricane but is not expected to strengthen over the next 48 hours.

Katia is expected to weaken even more Thursday though it's expected to bring large swells to the east coast and Bermuda, with possible life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

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