MIAMI _ Tropical Storm Irma began its westward track across the Atlantic Wednesday, becoming the ninth named storm of an increasingly busy hurricane season.
While it's too early to tell what threat Irma may pose to Florida or the U.S. Coast, the storm has the potential to gain significant strength as it crosses warm tropical Atlantic waters _ sea surface temperatures are more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit above normal _ and encounters weak wind shear that can smother storms. The air is also packed with moisture that can keep the storm well-fueled.
In their 11 a.m. EDT advisory, forecasters said sustained winds had reached 50 mph as the storm moved to the northwest at 13 mph about 420 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands off Africa's west coast. The storm could gain enough intensity to become a hurricane by Friday, they said.
So far, models remain split on the faraway storm's future track, with some steering it more southerly toward the Lesser Antilles and others taking it north. It's expected to take about a week to cross the Atlantic.
