Aug. 14 (UPI) — The National Hurricane Center said it expects Tropical Storm Gert to strengthen into a hurricane Monday night, though it should stay off the United States’ eastern coast.
The NHC said the storm is not a threat to the United States or Bermuda.
Gert, which has maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, was located about 455 miles west-southwest of Bermuda as of the NHC’s 5 p.m. EST advisory. The storm system was moving north at 8 mph.
The NHC said Gert was moving “well away from land” and was expected to pass about midway between the United States’ east coast and Bermuda on Tuesday.
Gert could become a hurricane by Wednesday, the NHC added. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from Gert’s center.
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
The NHC warns that although Gert is no direct threat to land, it could generate swells from North Carolina northward to Long Island over the next couple days. Swells also may affect Bermuda.
