Trop. Storm Warning for East Coast

HILO, Hawaii (AP) -- A tropical storm warning has been issued for a section of the U.S. East Coast as Tropical Storm Hermineapproaches Florida from the Gulf of Mexico.

The warning covers an area that extends from Marineland, Florida, northward to the South Santee River in South Carolina.

A hurricane warning was already in effect for a section of Florida's Gulf coast from the Suwanne River to Mexico Beach. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for other sections of Florida's Gulf coast.

Hermine's maximum sustained winds remain near 60 mph (95 kph). Forecasters say Hermine is expected to become a hurricane by the time it makes landfall on Florida's coast Thursday night or early Friday.

As of 5 a.m. EDT Thursday, Hermine is centered about 275 miles (440 kilometers) west-southwest of Tampa, Florida, and is moving north-northeast near 12 mph (19 kph).

(KA)