Tropical Storm Gonzalo looms in Atlantic, could become hurricane

MIAMI — Recently formed Tropical Storm Gonzalo is strengthening in the Atlantic and the National Hurricane Center said it could become a hurricane by Friday.

Gonzalo set a record for the earliest named seventh tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Gonzalo is moving closer to the southern Windward Islands. It has maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. Some strengthening is forecast, but Gonzalo is expected to weaken as it moves into the Caribbean Sea.

Gonzalo was centered about 1,110 miles east of the southern Windward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. It was heading west at 14 mph.

The Hurricane Center said that interests in the Windward Islands should monitor the storm.

Gonzalo’s strengthening breaks a record set by Tropical Storm Gert, which formed on July 24, 2005. So far this year, Cristobal, Danielle, Edouard and Fay also set records for being the earliest named Atlantic storms of their respective place in the alphabet.

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