By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tropical Storm Delta gained strength in the central Atlantic but was expected to weaken before reaching the Canary Islands, forecasters said.
Delta, the 25th named storm of the record 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, had top sustained wind Sunday near 65 mph (105 kph), up from 40 mph (64 kph) earlier in the day.
At 10 p.m., Delta was centered about 475 miles (765 kilometers) west of La Palma, in the Canary Islands, and moving east-northeast near 26 mph (42 kph).
It was expected to lose the characteristics of a tropical storm before reaching the Canary Islands off the northwestern coast of Africa on Monday but still could have strong winds, the hurricane center said.
The six-month Atlantic hurricane season officially ends Wednesday, but tropical storms and hurricanes occasionally develop in December.