While the first tropical storm of the season began to lash the coast of Florida on Saturday evening, the first hurricane of the season likely to hit U.S. shores began forming hundreds of m

iles out to sea. Tropical Storm Claudette appeared on the radar early Saturday, and by evening had already added to its strength, bringing heavy rains and high winds to the Florida Panhandle. But brewing in the warm and open Atlantic Ocean was another threat, where Tropical Storm Bill began gathering force.

Tropical Storm Bill has been gathering force and may head for the East Coast as a major Category 3 storm by next weekend. According to the National Hurricane Center, Bill may even strengthen to a hurricane to a hurricane, with winds over 74mph, by today.

Bill looked to be heading towards south Florida, but forecasters said it was impossible to predict whether it would change course or lose force in the coming days. Some storm watchers have even predicted that Bill may bring with it 100mph-plus winds as it bears down on the Leeward Islands by the end of the week, and reaches the U.S. coast by the weekend.

As Claudette became the first major storm to strike the U.S. this season, residents quickly took shelter. The storm brought with it winds of about 50mph, and a rainfall forecast of 3 to 5 inches and isolated amounts of up to 10 inches.

The first tropical storm of the season - Ana - was spotted over the Atlantic, but has since weakened into a tropical depression.