Otto weakens to a tropical storm over the north-central Atlantic

[News_Editor]

Otto weakens to a tropical storm over the north-central Atlantic

2010-10-10 20:23:05 GMT+7 (ICT)

MIAMI (BNO NEWS) -- Hurricane Otto weakened to a tropical storm as it moved over the north-central Atlantic on Sunday, forecasters said, adding that the cyclone is rapidly losing tropical characteristics.

As of 5 a.m. EDT on Sunday, the center of Tropical Storm Otto was located about 1,630 kilometers (1,015 miles) west of the Azores. The storm was moving toward the east-northeast near 63 kilometers (39 miles) per hour, a general motion which is expected to continue throughout the day.

"A decrease in forward speed is expected to begin this evening with Otto turning sharply eastward and east-southeastward by Monday night," said Robbie Berg, a forecaster at the Miami-based National Hurricane Center. "On this track, Otto is expected to move near or to the north of the Azores Monday and Monday night."

Otto's maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 100 kilometers (65 miles) per hour, with higher gusts, making it a tropical storm. Earlier, Otto was a category one hurricane.

"The satellite presentation of Otto continues to deteriorate," Berg said. "The low-level center is now completely exposed to the south of a large shield of cirrus and a few bursts of convection, and the cyclone is looking increasingly extratropical."

Strong vertical shear and colder waters are expected to continue weakening Otto, but the cyclone is expected to remain a tropical or post-tropical storm through Wednesday. After that, the storm should weaken to a post-tropical depression.

Otto is not expected to be a major threat to the Azores, as most of the storm will likely stay north of the area. However, the forecast is still subject to change.

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