Tropical Strom Delta forms in central Atlantic

MIAMI — The record-breaking hurricane season continued Wednesday when Tropical Storm Delta formed in the central Atlantic, but it only posed a threat to shipping, forecasters said. The 25th named storm of the season had top sustained winds of about 60 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Delta could briefly strengthen into the 14th hurricane of the season. "It's way out there in the middle of nowhere," hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart said. "It shouldn't threaten the United States or probably any other land area for that matter." At 4 p.m. EST, Delta was centered about 1,150 miles southwest of the Azores Islands. It was moving south-southeast near 9 mph and was expected to turn north. Delta was a large storm: Tropical storm-force winds stretched out up to 345 miles from its center. The record of 21 tropical storms and hurricanes in a season had stood since 1933, but it was broken this year. The 13 hurricanes so far this year also broke the record of 12 set in 1969. Hurricane Katrina became the most expensive U.S. hurricane ever and the deadliest one to hit America since 1928.