Hurricane Fred advisory for 5 a.m. Sept. 9
At 5 a.m. AST, the center of Hurricane Fred was located about 500 miles west south-west of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands.
Fred is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph and a turn toward the northwest and then north-northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days.
Satellite images indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 105 mph with higher gusts. Fred is a category two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Some additional strengthening is forecast and Fred could become a major hurricane later today. Weakening is expected to begin on Thursday.
Hurricane force winds extend outward to up to 25 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 85 miles.