First Atlantic hurricane weakens to tropical storm

MIAMI (AP) -- Chris spent mere hours Thursday as the first Atlantic Ocean hurricane of the season and now has weakened to a tropical storm, far offshore from Canada.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Chris spent several hours as a hurricane but weakened Thursday to a tropical storm.

Earlier Thursday, the center said Chris had just achieved hurricane status with 75 mph top sustained winds. At 5 p.m. EDT, the center said the storm's maximum sustained winds had dropped to 70 mph.

Chris was centered about 585 miles east-southeast of Cape Race Newfoundland. It was moving to the north-northeast at 14 mph.

The center said the storm poses no threats to land at this time.

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