Hurricane Otto forms in the Atlantic; on track that will take it farther out to sea

Hurricane Otto forms in the Atlantic

MIAMI — Otto has reached hurricane strength over the Atlantic on a path that’s expected to take it farther out to sea.

Hurricane Otto has maximum sustained winds Friday near 75 mph (120 kph). The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says some additional strengthening is expected but Otto is forecast to weaken by late Saturday.

A day earlier, raging floodwaters from then-Tropical Storm Otto overturned cars, toppled power lines and washed out roads in the northeastern Caribbean.

Otto is located about 445 miles (715 kilometers) south of Bermuda and is heading east-northeast, away from Caribbean islands, near 17 mph (28 kph). The Hurricane Center predicts the storm will advance across the open Atlantic toward the Azores archipelago off Portugal.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Otto has gained strength and is expected to become a hurricane as it heads farther east over the Atlantic.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says the storm’s maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph (110 kph) early Friday and the storm is expected to reach hurricane strength later in the day.

A day earlier, raging floodwaters from Otto overturned cars, toppled power lines and washed out roads in the northeastern Caribbean.

Otto is located about 520 miles (835 kilometers) south of Bermuda and is heading east-northeast, away from Caribbean islands, near 14 mph (22 kph). The Hurricane Center predicts the storm will advance across the open Atlantic toward the Azores archipelago off Portugal.