Katia downgraged to tropical storm

(CNN) -- The National Hurricane Center has downgraded Katia, which had been a Category 1 hurricane as it moved through the Atlantic, to a tropical storm, but it is expected to intensify after the next 24 to 36 hours.

As of 5 p.m. ET Katia was about 930 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands. Its maximum sustained winds were 70 mph, slightly below the level required to be classified as a hurricane, due to a southwesterly shear effect stemming from an upper-level low pressure system northwest of the storm, the hurricane center said.

Katia is continuing to move west at about 18 mph, and is expected to slow down and begin a gradual turn to the northwest, according to shear analysis by the hurricane center.

COMMENT: ANOTHER TROPICAL STORM IS PRODUCING NEAR THE ISLANDS OF HAITI, CUBA AND OTHERS, THERES VERY FEW RISK WITH THIS STORM BECAUSE IT IS NOT TO STRONG AS WAS IRENE. AND ITS FUNNY BECAUSE MY LITTLE SISTER IS NAMED KATIA.