Rene re-strengthens into tropical storm, still on track to become hurricane

Rene has re-strengthened to a tropical storm far out over the Atlantic.

The storm's maximum sustained winds increased to near 40 mph (65 kph) Wednesday morning with additional strengthening expected over the next few days, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

RELATED: 2 tropical storms: Rene becomes earliest ‘R’ named storm on record in Atlantic after Paulette forms

Rene was centered about 510 miles (815 kilometers) west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands and was moving west-northwest near 13 mph (20 kph). The storm was not posing a threat to any land.

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Tropical Storms Paulette and Rene as seen from visible satellite Monday (NOAA/NHC)

Farther west in the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Paulette was expected to begin weakening. That storm's maximum sustained winds were near 60 mph (95 kph) with gradual weakening expected to begin Thursday or Friday, the National Hurricane Center said. Paulette was centered about 1,145 miles (1,845 kilometers) east of the Northern Leeward Islands and was moving west near 8 mph (13 kph).