The National Hurricane Center has upgraded Tropical Storm Danielle to a hurricane, the second of the Atlantic season.

Danielle was still far out to sea late Monday afternoon, moving west-northwest and carrying top sustained winds of 130km/h +, making the storm a Category 1 hurricane.

The hurricane center said more strengthening could be expected over the next two days, with the storm becoming a major hurricane — Category 3 or above — by Wednesday. Category 3 storms are capable of devastating damage.

While the storm is currently heading in the general direction of Bermuda, it would be several days before Danielle approaches any land — and forecasting any landfall so far out is unreliable.

Hurricane Alex, the first hurricane of the season, sent thousands in northeastern Mexico to shelters in late June and early July.