Officials say Tropical Storm Gert grew stronger as of Monday morning, but forecasters said it would turn away well before reaching the United States.
Gert, the seventh named storm of Atlantic this year, was located about 460 miles west-southwest of Bermuda as of 11 a.m. EST Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Gert is moving to the north at 8 mph and is expected to turn to the north-northeast by Monday night. That track would steer Gert away from making landfall in the U.S.
However, the hurricane center said waves churned up by Gert could begin to affect parts of the North Carolina and Virginia coasts later today. Those swells could cause deadly rip currents.
Gert's winds jumped up to 60 mph Monday morning. Forecasters said it could get stronger and become a hurricane by Tuesday night.
Hurricane force winds begin at 74 mph.