The National Weather Service is warning of a high risk for dangerous rip currents sparked by Hurricane Leslie along the coast of North Carolina.
The storm was upgraded from a tropical storm to a hurricane Wednesday afternoon. It is the sixth hurricane of the season.
The weather service office in Morehead City says rip currents sparked by Leslie are possible Wednesday in Dare, Hyde, Onslow and Carteret counties.
Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore. They occur most often at low spots or breaks in sandbars.
Anyone caught in a rip current should swim parallel to the shore until they are able to escape and swim in to the beach.
The tropical storm itself is heading toward Bermuda. It is not expected to directly impact the U.S.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Michael was gaining strength Wednesday farther out to sea. It was over open waters and will not post a threat to the U.S.
(Copyright 2012 WITN & The Associated Press.)
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