Passing Hurricane Humberto strengthens to Category 2, brings rip currents to NC coast

Hurricane Humberto strengthened into a Category 2 storm on Tuesday morning, but it should not bring severe weather to North Carolina.

Humberto now has maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and is moving northeast at 8 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm is expected to keep moving northeast, farther out to sea, and should not affect the East Coast apart from rip currents, beach erosion and some cloud cover, according to WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner.

According to Gardner, Humberto is likely to remain a Category 2 storm as it rushes by Bermuda over next couple days.

"It's a big storm, so they are going to see some rain and wind, but it looks like they will miss the center of circulation, where the strongest winds, biggest storm surge and heaviest rain will be," Gardner said.

The hurricane will weaken as it moves into colder waters.

According to Gardner, Humberto could bring rip currents to North Carolina's waters through Friday.