September 29, 2008

MIAMI (AP) -- The National Hurricane Center says Laura has formed
over the north central Atlantic as the 11th named storm of the
season.

The storm was centered about 695 miles south-southeast of Cape
Rice, Newfoundland, at 11 a.m. Monday and moving west-northwest
near 8 mph early Monday.

Laura's maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph. Some
strengthening is forecast during the next day or two.
But the hurricane center says Laura is not expected to affect
any land areas and will only be a threat to shipping interests in
the far north Atlantic.

Laura is a subtropical storm, which forecasters say is different
from a tropical storm but can still turn into a hurricane.

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