Katia Still a Tropical Storm, But Strengthening

Update: 5 p.m. Aug. 31, 2011 -Tropical Storm Katia's winds have now reached 70 mph. It is still moving west-northwest at about 20 mph, and is expected to continue strengthening, likely attaining hurricane status by Thursday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The tropical wave the NHC has been watching off the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico now has a 30 percent chance of developing into a tropical storm.

9:22 a.m. Aug. 31, 2011 - Still far out at sea, Tropical Storm Katia continues to spin and gain strength.

The National Hurricane Center report as of 5 a.m. updates that the storm has gained strength with winds now reaching 65 mph and is still expected to gain hurricane strength (winds 74 mph or higher) early tomorrow.

Katia could reach major hurricane status (category 3 with winds of 110 mph) by Monday, according to The Weather Channel.

While still too early to tell exactly what the storm will do and if it will impact land at all, most models predict Katia will continue moving west-northwest and eventually make a more northward turn sending it east of Bermuda but still well off the U.S. east coast.

Katia was located at 13.9° N 39.1° W and was traveling west-northwest at 21 mph.

The NHC does note that some dry air near the storm's core could slow Katia's development into a hurricane if it gets sucked into the storm's center. Several of the prediction models disagree about the amount of wind shear the storm will experience over the course of the next few days which also could affect its development.

The NHC is also watching a tropical wave system that will be passing over the Yucatan Peninsula into the Gulf of Mexico in the next couple of days. The system currently is given a 10 percent chance of turning into a tropical storm, but could strengthen as it hits Gulf waters.