Storm Jose likely to strengthen into hurricane: National Hurricane Center

Washington: Tropical storm Jose is expected to strengthen into a hurricane later on Friday, bringing "high surfs and life threatening rip currents" along sections of the United States east coast, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

The storm is about 500 miles (800 km) south-southwest of Bermuda, packing maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph), the NHC said.

"Jose is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 miles per hour (13 km per hour). A gradual turn toward the north is expected later today and on Saturday," the Miami-based weather forecaster said in its latest advisory.