Tropical Storm Andrea Zipping Up The East Coast

MIAMI (AP) — Forecasters say Tropical Storm Andrea is moving at a brisk pace as it heads up the East Coast, bringing winds, heavy rains and a threat of flooding to coastal areas in Georgia and the Carolinas.

The first named storm of the Atlantic season has been losing intensity after hammering parts of Florida with rain, winds and even tornadoes.

Ben Nelson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jacksonville, said Andrea could lose its tropical characteristics as early as Friday morning.

Still, heavy rains were continuing well away from the storm's center, and forecasters warned that it could cause isolated flooding and storm surge over the next two days.