Hurricane Kirk strengthened into a Category 3 storm in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday and is expected to grow rapidly into a major hurricane, forecasters said.
There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect and the storm system was not yet considered a threat to land.
Kirk reached category 3 on Wednesday, reported the United States National Hurricane Center, based in Miami. The storm was about 1,150 miles (1,855 kilometers) east-northeast of the Lesser Antilles, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph).
It was moving northwest at 12 mph (19 km/h). This week it was expected to gradually turn north-northwest and north.
Swells generated by the storm could affect parts of the Leeward Islands and Bermuda over the weekend, likely causing “life-threatening” waves and rip currents, the center said.
Kirk grew up while many people in the southeastern United States still lacked running water, cell phone service and electricity as rescuers searched for missing people after Hurricane Helene hit last week as a Category 4 storm and will leave a trace of death and catastrophic damage.
