By Associated Press - Sunday, September 4, 2011

MIAMI (AP) — The National Hurricane Center on Sunday said Hurricane Katia quickly has strengthened to a Category 2 storm in the open Atlantic Ocean.

No watches or warnings are in effect, and it’s too soon to know if it will threaten land. Forecasters warned that Bermuda could begin seeing strong surf and rip currents this week.

At 2 p.m. EDT Sunday, the storm’s center was about 360 miles northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands and moving northwest at 12 mph.

It had sustained maximum winds that jumped up to 100 mph after wavering earlier in the morning between a tropical storm and weak Category 1 hurricane.

Forecasters expect Katia to strengthen further and said it could be a major hurricane by Monday.

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