Tropical Storm Patty forms in the Atlantic

 MIAMI (AP) -- Tropical Storm Patty is weakening as it drifts in the Atlantic.

   The storm's maximum sustained winds decreased early Friday to near 40 mph (65 kph). Additional weakening is forecast and the U.S. National Hurricane Center says Patty could become a remnant low by Saturday.

   The storm is centered about 230 miles (375 kilometers) east-northeast of the central Bahamas and is moving south-southwest near 3 mph (6 kph).

5 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center:

SUMMARY OF 500 AM EDT...0900 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...25.1N 72.5W
ABOUT 230 MI...375 KM ENE OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...SSW OR 200 DEGREES AT 3 MPH...6 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1006 MB...29.71 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.


DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
AT 500 AM EDT...0900 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM PATTY WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 25.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 72.5 WEST. PATTY IS
MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTH-SOUTHWEST NEAR 3 MPH...6 KM/H.  A SLOW
MOVEMENT TOWARD THE SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OR SOUTHWEST IS EXPECTED
TODAY...FOLLOWED BY AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED ON SUNDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 40 MPH...65 KM/H...
WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  WEAKENING IS LIKELY...AND PATTY COULD BECOME A
REMNANT LOW BY SATURDAY.

TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KM
...TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1006 MB...29.71 INCHES.


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
NONE.


NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...1100 AM EDT.

$$