UPDATE (11:00 p.m.) -- Hurricane Chris grew stronger late Tuesday and entered Category 2 phase, with highest winds of 105 mph. The forecast track has not changed drastically, and the hurricane is expected to steer clear of the U.S. east coast through the next two days and beyond.
MIDWAY, Fla. (WTXL) -- Chris has developed a clear central "eye" and an impressive structure on satellite imagery Tuesday, and Air Force reconnaissance aircraft observations prompted its upgrade to a Category 1 hurricane.
Chris has peak wind speeds near 85 mph, with some higher gusts. Late Tuesday afternoon, Chris was moving northeast at 10 mph, about 200 miles from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
Chris' strength as a hurricane will likely continue for another 24 hours or so, but as it accelerates to the northeast, it will enter a colder environment in the northern Atlantic. Its projected path keeps Chris a safe distance from the United States eastern coastline.
Upper-level winds will also create a less favorable environment for Chris' survival as it advances toward the Canadian Maritimes provinces later this week.
