Otto becomes a tropical storm as it meanders over the Atlantic Ocean

Otto becomes a tropical storm as it meanders over the Atlantic Ocean

2010-10-08 10:24:17 GMT+7 (ICT)

MIAMI (BNO NEWS) -- Subtropical Storm Otto transitioned into a Tropical Storm as it slowly moved away from the Bahamas on late Thursday evening, forecasters said.

As of 11 p.m. EDT on Thursday, the center of Tropical Storm Otto was located about 930 kilometers (575 miles) south of the British overseas territory of Bermuda. The storm was moving toward the east-northeast at near 15 kilometers (9 miles) per hour.

"An increase in forward speed is expected during the next couple of days," said forecaster Robbie Berg at the Miami-based National Hurricane Center. "On the forecast track, Otto should pass well to the south and southeast of Bermuda on Friday afternoon and Friday evening."

As of late Thursday evening, Otto had maximum sustained winds near 95 kilometers (60 miles) per hour, with higher gusts. "Strengthening is still possible during the next 48 hours since the vertical shear is expected to be relatively light," Berg said, adding that Otto may still become a hurricane during the next few days.

Tropical Storm-force winds currently extend outward up to 150 kilometers (90 miles) from the center of Otto. "Heavy rainfall is possible in the Northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico during the next day or so," Berg warned.

Further on in the forecast, models show that Otto will likely set a course for the Azores, where it may make landfall as a post-tropical storm on Monday.

Also on Thursday, a broad trough of low pressure is continuing to produce an area of showers and thunderstorms over portions of the western Caribbean Sea. "Some slow development is possible as the system remains nearly stationary over the next few days," Berg said.

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