(Miami) Leslie strengthened into a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, but does not threaten land, forecasters said.
The storm was located about 1,170 kilometers west-southwest of Cape Verde’s southernmost islands on Saturday and was packing maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h. There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
Meanwhile, the hurricane Kirk remained a Category 4 hurricane, and waves from the system were affecting the Leeward Islands, Bermuda and the Greater Antilles, forecasters said. Waves from the storm are expected to spread to the eastern seaboard of the United States, the Atlantic coast of Canada and the Bahamas Saturday evening and Sunday.
Forecasters have warned that the waves could cause life-threatening riptides.
Kirk is expected to weaken from Saturday, the center said.
Although there were no coastal warnings or watches in effect for Kirkthe center said residents in the Azores, where waves could hit Monday, should monitor the storm’s progress.
Kirk was approximately 1570 kilometers east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, with maximum sustained winds of 209 km/h.