Tropical Storm Richard forms over the Caribbean Sea - forecasters

[News_Editor]

Tropical Storm Richard forms over the Caribbean Sea - forecasters

2010-10-21 21:51:56 GMT+7 (ICT)

MIAMI (BNO NEWS) -- Tropical Storm Richard formed in the Caribbean Sea on late Thursday morning, meteorologists said, saying that the storm could strengthen into a hurricane by Saturday.

As of 11 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Richard was located about 335 kilometers (220 miles) south-southeast of Grand Cayman, the largest of the three Cayman Islands. It is moving towards the southeast near 9 kilometers (6 miles) per hour, with a gradual turn toward the south, southwest and west expected through Thursday and Friday.

Meteorologists at the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said Richard has maximum sustained winds near 65 kilometers (40 miles) per hour with higher gusts, warning that the storm will likely strengthen into a hurricane by early Saturday morning.

Richard is expected to remain over the Caribbean Sea for the rest of the week, but will likely make landfall on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula early next week.

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