Josephine strengthening

MIAMI, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Josephine strengthened in its westward motion toward the Caribbean Wednesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center reported.

Trailing Hurricane Ike to the east, Josephine also gained strength and was expected to grow in the next 24 hours, the hurricane center said. At 5 p.m., the storm was about 375 miles west of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands with 60 mph winds and higher gusts, the forecasters reported.

Josephine was moving westward near 13 mph, and was expected to start weakening Friday.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles, the center said.

Josephine is the 10th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.