September 1, 2008

MIAMI (AP) - The National Hurricane Center has upgraded Hanna to a hurricane as it brings waves, rain and blustery winds to the Turks and Caicos.

Hurricane warnings were issued for the island chain and the central and southeastern Bahamas on Monday and forecasters warned that the storm could strike the US mainland.

Meteorologists say it could hit anywhere from Miami to the outer banks of North Carolina later in the week.

At 1:30pm, Hanna's center was located near Mayaguana Island in the southeastern Bahamas.

Hanna is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and comes on the heels of Gustav, which battered the Gulf Coast on Monday.

A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected within the next 24 hours.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)