Miami, Fla.(970 WFLA)-At 500 AM EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Chris was located near latitude 32.6 North, longitude 73.9 West, about 200 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
Chris is moving toward the northeast near 2 mph, and a faster northeastward motion is expected today and tonight. Chris is forecast to further accelerate toward the northeast on Wednesday and Thursday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph with higher gusts. Chris is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane later today and some additional strengthening is expected through Wednesday night.
Chris is forecast to become a strong post-tropical cyclone by Thursday night or early Friday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center.
The latest minimum central pressure reported by an Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft is 993 mb (29.33 inches).
Graphic Credit: NHC Miami