Hurricane Katia Gets Stronger Over Open Atlantic

MIAMI (AP) -- Hurricane Katia is getting stronger as it moves across the Atlantic Ocean.

By late Monday morning, Katia's maximum sustained winds had increased to 110 mph (177 kph). That makes Katia a strong Category 2 storm, and the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says it's possible Katia will get even stronger as the day goes on.

Hurricane specialist Todd Kimberlain says it's looking less likely that Katia will hit land but that wind from the storm could still affect the U.S. East Coast as it moves north. Kimberlain also says the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions should still keep an eye on Katia.

Katia is centered about 540 miles (869 kilometers) south of Bermuda and is moving northwest near 13 mph (21 kph).

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)