31.   The storm was at hurricane strength for much of the day, and was due to make landfall Sunday evening.

32.   The system dropped Sunday from hurricane strength after posing a threat only to shipping in the Atlantic.

33.   The storm briefly reached hurricane strength as it crossed the Yucatan Peninsula from east to west Tuesday.

34.   They said Gordon could reach hurricane strength by late Saturday.

35.   Tropical Storm Bertha has reached hurricane strength, growing in size and strength as it bore down on northeastern Caribbean islands.

36.   To make matters worse, Tropical Storm Jose was swirling in the Caribbean and could reach hurricane strength later today.

37.   Tropical Storm Noel, which reached hurricane strength in the North Atlantic on Monday, had weakened by nightfall and was expected to gain forward speed, forecasters said.

38.   Caribbean islands on Sunday braced for tropical storm Bertha, which meteorologists said was expected to reach hurricane strength by early Monday.

39.   Tropical-storm force winds should hit Puerto Rico at dawn Wednesday increasing to hurricane strength later in the day.