Tropical Storm Delta gains strength in Atlantic

MIAMI -- Tropical Storm Delta gained strength in the central Atlantic on Sunday but was expected to weaken before reaching the Canary Islands, forecasters said. Delta, the 25th named storm of the record 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, had top sustained wind near 65 mph, up from 40 mph earlier in the day. At 9 p.m., Delta was centered about 475 miles west of La Palma in the Canary Islands and moving east-northeast near 26 mph. It was expected to lose the characteristics of a tropical storm before reaching the Canary Islands off the northwestern coast of Africa on today but still could have strong winds, the hurricane center said.

The six-month Atlantic hurricane season officially ends Wednesday, but tropical storms and hurricanes occasionally develop in December.

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On the Net:

National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov