Local Editor

Tropical Storm Gaston in the Atlantic is expected to pick up strength and once again become a hurricane, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center [NHC] said Saturday.

At 6 a.m. the center of Gaston was swirling south-east of Bermuda near latitude 27.9 north and longitude 52 west, the NHC said.

The storm is moving toward the northwest around 15 miles [24 kilometers] per hour, with maximum sustained winds of near 65 miles [100 kilometers] per hour.

Gaston's tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 150 miles [240 kilometers] from the center.

"Strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Gaston is expected to become a hurricane by tonight," the NHC said.

The center's five-day forecast predicts however that Gaston will switch directions on Tuesday and move northeast back into the open ocean, and away from the US mainland.

Early Thursday Gaston became the third named hurricane of the Atlantic season, but weakened to a tropical storm later in the day.

Although the Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, this year's first hurricane - Alex - formed in January during an unusual weather event.

The Climate Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA] initially estimated the Atlantic would see between 10 and 16 storms this year, but recently updated its prediction to 17.

Earl became this season's second hurricane earlier this month, leaving 45 dead in Mexico.

Last year's number of storms was below average, with 11 tropical storms in the Atlantic, six of which became hurricanes, including two major ones.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team