From 1964 until this year, three days was the longest ahead that federal hurricane forecasters dared venture.

"Further strengthening is likely tonight and Tuesday," said a hurricane forecaster, Joseph Pelissher.

As a result, hurricane forecasters anticipated Florence would develop significantly and attain major hurricane status.

William Gray, a hurricane forecaster at Colorado State University, has predicted 11 named storms, including two major hurricanes, for the season.

After a stint as a hurricane forecaster in Miami under Grady Norton, he was assigned to help create the Army Air Force weather school in Panama.

The first hurricane in the Atlantic in the new storm season was born today when a tropical storm's winds strengthened to 75 miles per hour, hurricane forecasters said.

As a result, hurricane forecasters predicted Florence to quickly develop and reach major hurricane status.

But given its zigzagging path so far, hurricane forecasters were not certain that the storm would not change course again.

"This may be a minimal hurricane but no hurricane is a minimal event," said Mark Zimmerman, a hurricane forecaster.

Early predictions from hurricane forecasters said that the depression would strengthen into the season's third tropical storm.