Editor's Note: Tropical Storm Rosa has become a hurricane late Wednesday morning. Read the latest story here

Tropical Storm Rosa, which formed off the Pacific coast Tuesday, is expected to strengthen rapidly and become a hurricane Wednesday and a major hurricane Thursday. But the National Hurricane Center, in Miami, says Rosa is likely to stay far offshore.

As of 5 a.m. EDT, Rosa was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and was some 470 miles west-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, the NHC said in an advisory early Wednesday. The storm was moving west-northwest at about 10 mph, with tropical storm-force winds reaching outward up to 60 miles from the center.

The NHC said there were no coastal watches or warnings in effect, but swells generated by Rosa would affect portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico and the southern Baja California Peninsula in Mexico later this week into the weekend. "These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions," the hurricane center said.

Meanwhile, record flooding is likely on the South Carolina coast in wake of Hurricane Florence. The NHC said a broad area of low pressure about 300 miles south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, was producing showers and thunderstorms on its north side.

Florence made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane Sept. 14 and has since killed at least 47 people across multiple states.

Economic research firm Moody's Analytics estimated that the storm has caused around $44 billion in damage and lost output, one of the 10 costliest hurricanes to hit the U.S. The worst disaster, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, cost $192.2 billion in today's dollars. Last year's Hurricane Harvey cost $133.5 billion.</s>MEXICO CITY — Tropical Storm Rosa has formed off Mexico’s Pacific coast, and while it is expected to strengthen, forecasters say it will remain far offshore.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center says the storm is located about 385 miles (620 kilometres) southwest of Manzanillo.

On Tuesday, Rosa had winds of about 45 miles per hour (75 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 9 miles per hour (15 kph).

The Hurricane Center predicted Rosa would grow to hurricane strength within a couple of days.

On its current track, Rosa is likely to remain hundreds of miles off the coast.</s>Tropical Storm Rosa has formed off the Pacific coast and is expected to become a hurricane by early Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Forecasters say it will remain far offshore.

Rosa currently has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was located about 410 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, the NHC said in an advisory. The storm was moving west-northwest at about 9 mph with tropical storm-force winds reaching outward up to 45 miles.

Meanwhile, record flooding is likely on the South Carolina coast in wake of Hurricane Florence. The NHC said a broad area of low pressure about 300 miles south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, is producing showers and thunderstorms on its north side. Officials say it could become a tropical depression Tuesday as it approaches the coast and will dump rain on coastal areas of North and South Carolina.
• None 4-year-old girl named Florence inspired to help victims of Hurricane Florence 



Florence made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane Sept. 14. Economic research firm Moody's Analytics estimated that the storm has caused around $44 billion in damage and lost output, one of the 10 costliest hurricanes to hit the U.S. The worst disaster, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, cost $192.2 billion in today's dollars. Last year's Hurricane Harvey cost $133.5 billion.</s>Forecasters say Tropical Storm Chris has formed in the Atlantic; further strengthening is likely</s>Forecasters say Subtropical Storm Leslie has formed in the north Atlantic, is expected to be short-lived.</s>Tropical Storm Kirk, which lost strength and had dissipated earlier this week as it crossed the tropical Atlantic, has strengthened and reemerged Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami. Forecasters say little additional change in strength is expected through Thursday and is expected to weaken as it crosses over the eastern Caribbean Sea.

According to the NHC's 2 p.m. EDT advisory, Kirk was located about 305 miles east of Barbados and about 430 miles east-southeast of Martinique, moving west at about 18 mph. The storm is packing maximum sustained winds of 60 mph with tropical storm-force winds reaching outward up to 115 miles from the center.

In the Pacific coast, weather officials are monitoring Hurricane Rosa. Forecasters said it is expected to strengthen but doesn't pose an immediate threat to land.
• The NHC announced a tropical storm warning for Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, Martinique and Guadeloupe with tropical storm conditions that may happen within the next 36 hours.
• NHC said a tropical storm watch is in effect for St. Vincent and the Grenadines -- with tropical storm conditions appearing within the next 36 hours.
• NHC says Kirk can produce total rainfall of 4 to 6 inches across the northern Windward and southern Leeward Islands -- with isolated maximum totals up to 10 inches across Martinique and Dominica. They warn of life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.



The NHC released an image showing Kirk's forecasted movement through Monday at 8 a.m. ET.

Meanwhile, record flooding is likely on the South Carolina coast in wake of Hurricane Florence. The NHC said a broad area of low pressure about 300 miles south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, was producing showers and thunderstorms on its north side.
• None 4-year-old girl named Florence inspired to help victims of Hurricane Florence 



Florence made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane Sept. 14 and has since killed at least 47 people across multiple states.

Economic research firm Moody's Analytics estimated that the storm has caused around $44 billion in damage and lost output, one of the 10 costliest hurricanes to hit the U.S. The worst disaster, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, cost $192.2 billion in today's dollars. Last year's Hurricane Harvey cost $133.5 billion.</s>MIAMI (AP)  A new tropical storm has formed in the eastern Atlantic off the western coast of Africa.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Friday night that Tropical Storm Helene was located about 405 miles (650 kilometers) east of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands.

Forecasters expect the storm to bring tropical storm conditions to parts of the Cabo Verde Islands on Saturday night and Sunday. Officials say heavy rainfall on the islands could produce life-threatening flash floods.

The storm”s maximum sustained winds are 40 mph (65 kph) and it is moving west at 12 mph (19 kmh).</s>Tropical Storm Rosa has formed off the Pacific coast Tuesday and has quickly strengthened. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Rosa is forecast to become a hurricane overnight and could become a major hurricane by Thursday. Forecasters say it will remain far offshore.

Rosa's maximum sustained winds increased to 65 mph and was located about 445 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, the NHC said in an advisory late Tuesday. The storm was moving west-northwest at about 9 mph with tropical storm-force winds reaching outward up to 60 miles from the center.

NHC said there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect. However, swells generated by Rosa will affect portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico and the southern Baja California Peninsula later this week into the weekend. "These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions," they said.

Meanwhile, record flooding is likely on the South Carolina coast in wake of Hurricane Florence. The NHC said a broad area of low pressure about 300 miles south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, is producing showers and thunderstorms on its north side. Officials say it could become a tropical depression Tuesday as it approaches the coast and will dump rain on coastal areas of North and South Carolina.
• None 4-year-old girl named Florence inspired to help victims of Hurricane Florence 



Florence made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane Sept. 14. Economic research firm Moody's Analytics estimated that the storm has caused around $44 billion in damage and lost output, one of the 10 costliest hurricanes to hit the U.S. The worst disaster, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, cost $192.2 billion in today's dollars. Last year's Hurricane Harvey cost $133.5 billion.</s>Sign up for one of our email newsletters.

ROSEAU, Dominica — Forecasters on Thursday warned of heavy rains and flooding across the eastern Caribbean as Tropical Storm Kirk approached.

A tropical storm warning was issued for Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, Martinique and Guadeloupe. A tropical storm watch was issued for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Meteorologists said the center of Kirk was expected to pass between Dominica and Martinique early Thursday evening. Officials in the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe closed schools as a preventive measure.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said that up to 10 inches of rain could fall in parts of Dominica and Martinique. Forecasters said mudslides and flash flooding are possible.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was located about 60 miles east-northeast of Barbados. It was moving west-northwest at 16 mph.

Meanwhile, forecasters projected Hurricane Rosa will grow to Category 3 force off Mexico’s Pacific Coast, though it’s not expected to threaten land before next week.

Rosa had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph and was located about 530 miles southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. Forecasters said it was likely to strengthen further at sea, but then weaken to tropical storm force while curving back toward the peninsular early next week.</s>MIAMI (AP)  The Latest on tropical storms in the Atlantic (all times local):

Weather forecasters say Tropical Storm Chris is likely to strengthen to a hurricane by Monday but will remain well away from the U.S. coast for the next two or three days.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Sunday that the storm has barely moved since Saturday. At 11 a.m. EDT, the storm”s center was located about 160 miles (260 kilometers) south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Maximum sustained winds have reached 45 mph (75 kph).

No coastal watches or warnings are in effect, but forecasters say swells along the coasts of North Carolina and the mid-Atlantic states could produce dangerous surf and rip current conditions.

Tropical Storm Chris has formed in the Atlantic, the third named storm of the 2018 hurricane season.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Sunday that the storm was likely to strengthen. As of 5 a.m. EDT, its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 40 mph (65 kph).

The storm was centered about 150 miles (245 kilometers) south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The hurricane center said the storm was expected to generate swells that would increase in intensity along the North Carolina and mid-Atlantic coasts.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Beryl – the second named storm of this season – is expected to dump heavy rain over the Lesser Antilles at the end of the weekend.

Tropical Storm Beryl is moving rapidly westward toward the Lesser Antilles at the eastern entrance of the Caribbean Sea.

The storm that had been the Atlantic season”s first hurricane has been losing power, but residents on islands hit hard by storms last year stocked up on food and water Saturday and prepared for possible damaging winds, rains and waves.

A tropical storm warning is up on Guadeloupe and Dominica, while a tropical storm watch has been issued for the French Caribbean territories of Martinique, St. Martin and St. Barts as well as St. Maarten, Barbados, St. Lucia, Saba and St. Eustatius. Puerto Rico, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria in September, remains under a state of emergency.
Tropical Storm Rosa forms off the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Although Rosa is expected to strengthen, forecasters say that it will remain offshore.