* Astronomy

Hurricane Philippe and tropical storm Rita formed in the North Atlantic on Sunday, making them the 9th hurricane and 17th tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

At 2359 GMT Sunday, Rita had maximum sustained winds of 85 kph, which could strengthen in the next 24 hours. Rita was moving westward around 15 kph, and about 530 kilometres east-southeast of Nassau, the Bahamas.

US weather monitors issued a hurricane watch for Florida's western islands as tropical storm Rita brewed in the western Atlantic.

"Rita is getting much better organized and strengthening as it nears the south-eastern Bahamas. Rita could become a category one hurricane by late Monday.
A hurricane watch is in effect for all of the Florida Keys from Ocean Reef southward and westward to Dry Tortugas including Florida Bay. The watch area will likely be upgraded to a hurricane warning later tonight (Sunday).
Rita will be moving over the eastern and central Bahamas tonight and Monday." - The US National Hurricane Centre.

Cuban officials also issued a hurricane watch for Havana and nearby areas.

The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) expects Rita to become a full-fledged hurricane this week, and that it could take the same path as Hurricane Katrina.

As of interest the record for tropical storms occurred in 1933 which saw 21 cyclones. The record hurricane season occurred in 1969, which saw 12 hurricanes.