Tropical Storm Kate forms in the Atlantic north of Bermuda

Tropical Storm Kate became the fourth named hurricane for the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season as it moved north of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda on Wednesday.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said that the hurricane, packing winds of 75 miles per hour (mph) was about 260 miles north of Bermuda.

NHC said that while there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, residents of Bermuda should monitor the progress of the hurricane.

According to NHC, the center of Hurricane Kate was located near latitude 36.0 North, longitude 65.7 West and is moving towards the northeast near 40 mph.

It said this general motion should continue Wednesday and a motion toward the northeast with some decrease in forward speed is expected later Wednesday and Thursday.

“Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph with higher gusts.  Little change in strength is expected today.  Kate is forecast to lose tropical characteristics by Thursday, but remain a powerful cyclone through that time,” NHC added.

It said that swells from Kate will affect Bermuda on Wednesday, warning “these swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions."