The Latest: Karen unraveling, new fury for Hurricane Lorenzo

MIAMI — The Latest on tropical weather (all times local):

5 p.m.

Tropical Storm Karen is showing signs of unraveling.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center says the storm currently has top sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) and is about 370 miles (595 kilometres) south-southeast of Bermuda. Forecasters say Karen is moving toward the north-northeast but is expected to turn more eastward and then become nearly stationary by Friday night before disbanding over the weekend.

Far from land in the central tropical Atlantic, Category 4 Hurricane Lorenzo gained new fury Thursday afternoon. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Lorenzo now has maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 kph) and is shaping up to be one of the largest and most powerful hurricanes on record in that area of the open Atlantic.

Though Lorenzo poses no threat to land, the hurricane is kicking up large ocean swells that are expected to affect parts of the northeastern coast of South America as well as the Windward Islands.

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3 p.m.

Forecasters say Lorenzo has become one of the largest and most powerful hurricanes on record in the central tropical Atlantic.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Lorenzo grew Thursday to a dangerous Category 4 storm with top sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph). It says the hurricane could strengthen further still. Hurricane-force winds extend out up to 45 miles (75 kilometres) from the storm’s centre.

On Thursday, Lorenzo was located Thursday about 1,055 miles (1,695 kilometres) west of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands. The storm poses no immediate threat to land as it moves west-northwest over the central Atlantic at 13 mph (20 kph).

Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Karen strengthened slightly Thursday about 405 miles (650 kilometres) south-southeast of Bermuda. Top winds are clocking 45 mph (75 kph).

The Associated Press