Gonzalo Becoming Major Hurricane in Atlantic, Away from Land

Hurricane Gonzalo gained greater strength as it moved over the open Atlantic Tuesday, and forecasters said was expected to become a "major hurricane" during the day.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 110 miles (175 kilometers) an hour, with gusts even stronger, Gonzalo was right at the top edge of Category Two on the Saffir-Simpson scale , the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said.

However, the storm skirted the Caribbean and was moving over open ocean, some 105 miles (170 kilometers) north of St. Thomas, away from land.

St. Martin and St. Barthelemy remained under tropical storm warnings, but the warnings have been discontinued for Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands, the NHC said.

"Tropical storm conditions will gradually subside over the tropical storm warning area this morning," the forecasters said, adding rains would "diminish rapidly" as well.