Tropical Storm Chris forms in northern Atlantic

MIAMI - Forecasters say Tropical Storm Chris has formed off the coast of Newfoundland in the Atlantic Ocean but is no threat to land.

The National Hurricane Center said Tuesday afternoon that the storm has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) and was moving east at 8 mph (13 kph).

The high-altitude storm is some 560 miles (900 kilometers) south-southwest of Cape Race. No coastal watches or warnings have been issued.

Forecasters say Chris is not expected to strengthen and will fizzle out quick by Wednesday night or Thursday.

To the south, a large area of cloudiness, showers and thunderstorms over the NW Caribbean Sea extending northward across the Straits of Florida and the Bahamas is associated with a surface trough.

Although upper-level conditions are not likely to develop, areas of heavy rainfall are likely during the next couple of days over the Cayman Islands, Cuba, the Bahamas, and Southern Florida.

This system has a low chance (10 percent) of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. as it moves northwest at 5 to 10 mph.