Tropical Storm Maria, Hurricane Lee continue in Atlantic

Published: Updated:

FORT MYERS, Fla. Hurricanes Lee and Tropical Storm Maria continued moving Tuesday in the open Atlantic, the National Hurricane Center said.

Neither system is expected to impact Southwest Florida, WINK meteorologist Matt Devitt said. But Maria is forecast to skirt the outer banks of North Carolina and bring tropical storm force winds.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, as well as from the Bogue Inlet to the North Carolina-Virginia border, the National Hurricane Center said. A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for from Cape Lookout to Duck, as well as from Ocracoke Inlet to Cape Hatteras in North Carolina.

Maria weakened to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and is moving north at 7 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is about 150 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

Hurricane Lee is gaining strength with 110 mph winds as it moves west at 9 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The system is about 570 miles east-southeast of Bermuda and about 1,715 miles west of the Azores.

No coastal watches or warnings are in effect for the Category 2 storm, the National Hurricane Center said.

Map forecast for Hurricane Lee via National Hurricane Center

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