MIAMI (AP) — Leslie has strengthened into a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean and isn’t threatening land, forecasters said. The storm was located Saturday about 725 miles (1,170 kilometers) west-southwest of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands and had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph). There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

Although Kirk is forecast to turn north and stay over the open Atlantic, the NHC said the storm could cause "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions" that could reach portions of the Leeward Islands on Friday, Bermuda and the Greater Antilles on Saturday, and the east coast of the United States and the Bahamas on Sunday.

Hurricane Kirk is in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, nowhere near land. But the storm, which was classified as a Category 4 storm as of Friday, Oct. 4, could still affect North Carolina, the East Coast and islands including Bermuda and the Bahamas, according to the National Hurricane Center.