Hurricane Maria no threat

Hurricane Maria weakened on its way to the colder waters of the North Atlantic, while Tropical Storm Nate drifted south of Bermuda early Tuesday, forecasters said.

Maria peaked late Monday as a Category 3 hurricane with top wind speeds at 115 mph. By 5 a.m. EDT Tuesday, it was centered about 495 miles east of Bermuda with winds near 105 mph, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said.

The hurricane was only a threat to shipping interests as it moved north-northeast near 7 mph, forecasters said.

Nate, which formed Monday as the 14th named storm of the season, was centered about 275 miles south-southwest of Bermuda with top sustained winds near 45 mph. Forecasters said it could reach hurricane strength, with winds of at least 74 mph, by Wednesday.

It was meandering west near 2 mph, though it was expected to eventually make a turn to the northeast, forecasters said.

"Perhaps by the end of the work week it could be posing a threat to Bermuda, but not the U.S.," hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart said.

The hurricane season began June 1 and ends Nov. 30. Peak storm activity typically occurs from the end of August through mid-September.