Published: November 04, 2009 09:02 pm      

Tropical Storm Ida strengthens in southwest Caribbean

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical storm Ida is gaining strength in the southwest Caribbean, prompting a hurricane watch for the eastern coast of Nicaragua and storm warnings for two Colombian islands.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the ninth tropical storm of the season took shape Wednesday afternoon. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph (100 kph).

Forecasters say it could approach hurricane strength before making landfall early Thursday.

The storm’s center is about 65 miles (100 kilometers) east of Bluefields, Nicaragua. It is moving toward the west-northwest near 6 mph (9 kph).

Storm warnings were in effect for the Colombian islands of San Andres and Providencia.