(Reuters) -Tropical depression nine has strengthened into a tropical storm Imelda, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Sunday.

Tropical storm Imelda is about 370 miles (595.46 km) southeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida with maximum sustained winds at 40 mph (65 km/h).

The NHC forecast Imelda to strengthen into a hurricane by late Monday or Tuesday next week.

Tropical storm conditions are expected over central and northwestern Bahamas on Sunday, NHC said in its latest advisory.

Swells generated by storm Imelda and hurricane Humberto will affect portions of the Bahamas this weekend, and spread to much of the east coast of the U.S. early this week, the Miami-based forecaster added.

(Reporting by Ananya Palyekar in Bengaluru, Editing by Franklin Paul)

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