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Fred Turns Into Hurricane Overnight

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- WJZ's First Warning Weather Team is tracking Tropical Storm Fred.

Update, Aug. 31, 10:11 p.m.: Fred likely peaked in intensity this morning. The environment ahead of Fred is expected to become increasingly hostile. As a result, steady weakening is predicted.

The center of Fred will pass near or over the northwestern Cape Verde Islands through early tonight. A turn toward the west-northwestward is expected on Tuesday. A west-northwestward heading should then continue during the remainder of the forecast period.

Update, Aug, 31, 10:42 a.m.: Tropical Storm Fred turned into a hurricane overnight and is churning off the coast of Africa moving closer to the Cape Verde Islands.

According to WJZ Meteorologist Chelsea Ingram, Hurricane Fred is the easternmost hurricane on record.

Flash flood warnings remain in effect for parts of Florida this morning as remnants of Tropical Storm Erika move through. Rip currents are possible all the way to the Carolinas.

Update, Aug.30, 2015, 11:00 p.m.: Tropical Storm Fred is currently moving NW with winds at 15mph. The NWS says the system should remain over marginally warm sea surface temperatures with moderate vertical shear for the next day or so, and sounding data from Sal in the Cape Verde Islands indicate that the Saharan Air Layer is not very prominent ahead of Fred.  Given these factors in the short term, the storm is likely to strengthen into a hurricane overnight.

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect  for the Cape Verde Islands.

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Update, Aug.30, 2015, 5:00 p.m.: Tropical Storm Fred formed in the Atlantic Ocean today and continues to strengthen on Sunday afternoon. The National Weather Service says additional strengthening is expected and it could become a hurricane late Sunday night or early Monday.

Fred's current location is 150 miles east south east of Praia in the Cape Verde Islands.

A Hurricane Warning has been issued for the Cape Verde Islands.

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