Tropical Storm Irma Forms In Atlantic, Expected To Strengthen Into Hurricane

A tropical wave in the eastern Atlantic Ocean strengthened into a tropical storm Wednesday morning and has been officially named Irma. Forecasters from the National Hurricane Center said Irma poses no immediate threat to any land but is expected to strengthen as it continues its westward track across the Atlantic. As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, Irma was carrying maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was located about 420 miles west of the Cabo Verde islands in the far eastern Atlantic. "Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Irma could become a hurricane on Friday," the hurricane center said in its 11 a.m. advisory on the storm.