Florence Swirls in the Open Atlantic

MIAMI Sep 7, 2006 (AP)— Tropical Storm Florence was steaming over the open Atlantic early Thursday and forecasters said it could become a hurricane within the next day.
Florence had maximum sustained winds near 50 mph after strengthening Wednesday. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said it could strengthen into a hurricane, with winds of at least 74 mph, as early as Thursday.
At 5 a.m. EDT, the storm was centered 660 miles east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands, about 1,105 miles southeast of Bermuda. It was moving west-northwest near 10 mph.
At 5 a.m. EDT, the storm was centered 660 miles east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands, about 1,105 miles southeast of Bermuda. It was moving west-northwest near 10 mph.
It posed no immediate threat to land, though its large size tropical storm force winds extended 290 miles from its center could be a concern later in the week.
At least nine deaths in the United States and two in Haiti were blamed on Ernesto. http://abcnews.go.com/US/Weather/wireStory?id=2404006