Tropical Storm Fiona Forms in Atlantic
Monday, August 30, 2010
By: Nicole Creston

August 30, 2010 -- The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Fiona has formed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Fiona formed late Monday behind Hurricane Earl, which is battering the northeastern Caribbean. Fiona was located east of the Leeward Islands Monday afternoon and forecasters say a tropical storm watch may be required there.

Tropical Storm Fiona is packing winds of 40 miles per hour. Whether the storm will hit the United States is unclear, but forecasters expect it will turn north before it reaches the U.S. coast. Forecasters add the storm is too far away to accurately predict.

Hurricane Earl, meanwhile, is on a path projected to menace the U.S coast. Already, it is bringing dangerous rip currents to Florida’s Atlantic beaches. Extended forecasts predict Earl will turn north before directly impacting Florida.

However, the storm may curve closer to the U.S. coast near North Carolina later this week.