Gert becomes second hurricane of 2017 Atlantic season

Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Forecasters upgraded Tropical Storm Gert to a hurricane and said it's expected to turn northeast Tuesday, and miss the U.S. East Coast.

The National Hurricane Center said Tuesday morning that there is no current threat of landfall by Hurricane Gert. But swells and life-threatening surf and rip currents are expected to reach the United States -- from North Carolina to Long island, as well as in Bermuda.

Gert, which has maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, was located about 450 miles west of Bermuda, the NHC's 5 a.m. advisory said. The storm system was moving northward at 12 mph.

The NHC said Gert was moving "well away from land" and was expected to pass about midway between the East Coast and Bermuda on Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 75 mph, with higher gusts. The hurricane could gather additional momentum by Wednesday, forecasters said. Hurricane-force winds extend 25 miles outward from the center, with tropical-storm-force winds of up to 105 mph.

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.