Hurricane Katia grows to Category 4

Hurricane Katia became much stronger on Monday as it reached Category 4 strength with winds of up to 135 mph. The storm continues to move northwest, but is likely to take a turn to the north and then northeast before it reaches the US coast.

Photo: AP photo

The movement of the storm to the northwest is forecast to continue for as many as 36 hours. Afterwards, the storm can be picked up by the southerly flow between the subtropical ridge and a cutoff low over the eastern US. The storm is to make the turn in up to 72 hours, the National Hurricane Center said.

Meanwhile, forecasters are watching a new tropical wave southwest of the Cape Verde islands that is already starting to show some signs of organization and could become Tropical Depression 14 in the next day or so, and has a high chance of becoming tropical storm Maria in the next 48 hours, according to hurricane center.

At its current speed and bearing it would make landfall near the border of North Carolina and Virginia - 1550km away - late on Saturday night (local time). Its general motion is expected to continue at least through until Wednesday (local time).

Large swells generated by Katia are expected to affect most of the US East Coast in coming days, with "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions" forecast, News.com.au said