Subtropical Storm Josephine expected to become powerful extratropical cyclone

Subtropical Storm Josephine is accelerating northeastward away from the United States and is expected to become a powerful extratropical cyclone with hurricane-force winds by early Friday.

Josephine is about 315 kilometres south-southeast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and 765 kilometres south-southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The storm has maximum sustained winds of 100 km/h, with higher gusts, and is moving northeast at 20 km/h. Some additional strengthening is forecast through Thursday as the system transitions into an extratropical cyclone.

Josephine is expected to remain south of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland over the next couple of days before gradually turning eastward on Friday and into the weekend.

While no coastal watches or warnings are in effect, large swells generated by Josephine are affecting parts of Atlantic Canada and much of the eastern United States coastline. The swells could produce dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents.