Tropical Storm Hanna Makes Its Way Toward U.S.

Providenciales, Turks & Caicos: Tropical Storm Hanna brought battering waves, rain and blustery winds to this island chain on today, closing the airport and schools and clearing the streets. Forecasters warned that it could become a hurricane and strike the U.S. mainland.

"Right now, the uncertainty is such that it could hit anywhere from Miami to the outer banks of North Carolina," said Jessica Schauer Clark, a meteorologist at the hurricane center. "So people really need to keep an eye on it."

Tropical storm warnings were posted for the Turks and Caicos and the central and southeastern Bahamas, and the U.S. National Hurricane Center said the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season was likely to become a hurricane by midweek.

At 11 a.m. EDT, Hanna had top sustained winds near 60 mph (95 kmh) with higher gusts, and was centered about 40 miles (65 kms) north of Mayaguana Island in the southeastern Bahamas, moving west-southwest near 5 mph (7 kmh).

A U.S. Air Force reconnaissance aircraft was expected to analyze the storm later today.

Walter

Map Credit: National Hurricane Center/NOAA