Fred is easternmost hurricane to form in tropics of Atlantic

MIAMI (AP) – Weather forecasters say Hurricane Fred is the easternmost hurricane known to have formed in the Atlantic tropics, and the first to actually pass over the Cape Verde Islands as a hurricane.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says Fred’s maximum sustained winds Monday afternoon are near 80 mph (129 kph).

Hurricane Fred is centered about 165 miles (266 kilometers) north of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands, and is moving northwest near 12 mph (19 kph).

A hurricane warning is in effect for the islands. Heavy rain and strong winds were spreading over the northwestern islands. Gradual weakening is forecast over the next couple of days.

Meanwhile in the Pacific, Hurricane Jimena is centered about 1,230 miles (1979 kilometers) east of Hilo, Hawaii, and is moving west near 16 mph (26 kph). The Category 4 storm has maximum sustained winds near 145 mph (233 kph). The hurricane doesn’t currently pose a threat to land.