Cristobal churns off U.S. coast

MIAMI, July 19 (UPI) -- Tropical storm Cristobal lurked off the Carolina coast Saturday, the National Hurricane Center said. The weather center said storm watches and warnings had been issued for most coastal regions of both North and South Carolina. Cristobal was producing sustained winds near 45 mph and was located about 130 miles east of Charleston, S.C. It was moving slowly northeastward and was expected to slowly strengthen as it moves "parallel and very close" to the coasts of both North and South Carolina for the "next day or so," the hurricane center said. Three to 5 inches of rain was expected in North Carolina, with more possible in isolated areas. Hurricane Bertha, meanwhile, was moving quickly northeastward out into the Atlantic about 490 miles east-southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland. It was carrying winds of up... [read full story]