Tropical Storm Hanna forms in the central Atlantic

Tropical Storm Hanna formed in the central subtropical Atlantic on Monday, becoming the eighth tropical storm of the season. According to the National Hurricane Center, the system was located approximately 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) east-northeast of Bermuda.

The storm is moving east at about 17 mph (28 km/h) with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (72 km/h). Forecasters indicate that Hanna currently poses no threat to land, and there are no active coastal watches or warnings in effect. Little change in the storm's strength is expected in the coming days.

This development occurs during an Atlantic hurricane season that has seen a record minimum of hurricanes so far, a trend meteorologists attribute to the El Niño phenomenon. While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) previously lowered its Atlantic storm forecast, the phenomenon is expected to drive higher activity in the eastern Pacific.