Fred becomes second Atlantic hurricane of 2009

(CNS): As predicted by forecasters at the National Hurricane Centre in Miami, Fred intensified on Tuesday night to become the second hurricane of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. At 5:00 am (AST) Wednesday the centre of Hurricane Fred was located about 500 miles west-southwest of the southernmost Cape Verde islands and had winds of over 100 miles an hour. At this stage Fred poses no threat to the Cayman Islands.

 Forecasters said that Fred was a category two hurricane and was expected to strengthen as it moves across the tropical Atlantic. The hurricane is currently moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph and a turn toward the northwest and then north-northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days. Sustained winds have increased to near 105 mph with higher gusts and Fred could become a major hurricane later today.  Weakening is expected to begin on Thursday. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the centre and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 85 miles.