Hurricane Kirk expected to near Category 5 strength over open Atlantic

Hurricane Kirk continues to strengthen over the central tropical Atlantic, and all indications are that it will intensify further into a large and powerful storm. Thankfully, the FOX Forecast Center said a break in the Bermuda high will allow the hurricane to move north and stay in the open Atlantic.Maximum sustained winds from the Category 3 hurricane are near 120 mph with higher gusts. The storm is expected to continue strengthening into a Category 4 or stronger hurricane by Thursday.Here’s everything you need to know about Kirk:Kirk is located in the central tropical Atlantic more than 1,000 miles east-northeast of the Lesser Antilles.WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TROPICAL DEPRESSION, TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE?The National Hurricane Center said Kirk is moving toward the northwest near 12 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next day or two. By the end of the week, Kirk could curl more toward the north-northwest before turning northward over the weekend.A LOOK AT HOW THE HURRICANE FORECAST CONE WILL BE DIFFERENT IN 2024The hurricane could impact the Azores next week, but besides that, it poses no threat to land. The storm will produce massive swells that will extend across nearly the entire Atlantic, the FOX Forecast Center said.2024 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON GUIDE: HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS YEAR’S STORMSThese swells will reach the East Coast of the U.S. late this weekend and into next week. The larger waves may make for hazardous swimming conditions at the beach.