Tropical storm Katia forecast to become major hurricane

Tropical storm Katia is currently in the mid-Atlantic with maximum sustained windspeeds of 65mph. A fairly large storm already, with tropical storm windspeeds extending up to 85 miles from the centre, Katia is forecast to become a hurricane within the next few hours. It’s likely that the next advisory from the National Hurricane Centre will categorise Katia as a hurricane, so that may happen before some of our readers get to this post.

Tropical storm Katia is forecast to become a major Category 3 hurricane with windspeeds of 120mph+ by next Monday as she makes her way steadily westward across the Atlantic. Strengthening is expected to be steady due to high sea temperatures and low wind-shear. At the moment Katia looks like she could be heading for the U.S. from her forecast path, but as ever there is much uncertainty about where she will end up.

Some forecast models show a strong hurricane Katia making landfall somewhere on the U.S. Atlantic coastline, while others suggest Katia will curve northwards, potentially impacting Bermuda before heading out of harms way. Her eventual path will become more certain by next Monday when she has made more progress westward.

As ever you can keep up to date on tropical storm or hurricane Katia’s progress on our 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season page. We’ll update you once her path becomes a little clearer.

Tropical storm Katia’s forecast path over the next five days:

Tropical storm Katia forecast path