Tropical Storm Epsilon forms in central Atlantic

Tropical Storm Epsilon formed in the central Atlantic and could cause dangerous surf conditions in Bermuda over the next few days, forecasters said.

But the 26th named storm of the busiest hurricane season on record was not expected to hit land, according to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

At 10 p.m. EST Tuesday (0300 GMT Wednesday), Epsilon had top sustained winds of about 50 mph (80 kph), up 5 mph (8 kph) from earlier in the day. It could strengthen over warm ocean waters before hitting cooler waters that should cause it to weaken, forecasters said.

It was centered about 760 miles (1,223 kilometers) east of Bermuda and about 1,480 miles (2,381 kilometers) west of the Azores Islands. It was moving west near 8 mph (13 kph). The six-month Atlantic hurricane season ends Wednesday, AP reports.

A. A.