MIAMI (AP) - Hurricane Katia has weakened to a Category 3 storm as it moves across the Atlantic Ocean after briefly becoming a Category 4 system.

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The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says Katia's maximum sustained winds early Tuesday have decreased to near 125 mph (205 kph). The hurricane center says some fluctuation in strength is possible over the next 24 hours followed by slow weakening.

Forecast maps show Katia veering to the northeast, away from the U.S. in the coming week, but the hurricane center says large swells from the hurricane could affect the East Coast, Bermuda, the Greater Antilles and parts of the Bahamas over the next few days.

Katia is centered about 400 miles (645 kilometers) south of Bermuda and moving northwest near 10 mph (17 kph).

Hurricane Katia swells to Category 4 storm

MIAMI (AP) - Hurricane Katia has roared to a monstrous Category 4 storm as it moves across the Atlantic Ocean. 

On Monday night, Katia's maximum sustained winds had increased to 135 mph (215 kph). Some strength fluctuations are expected before the storm slowly weakens.

Hurricane specialist Todd Kimberlain says it's looking less likely that Katia will hit land but that wind from the storm could still affect the U.S. East Coast as it moves north. Forecast maps show it veering to the northeast, away from the U.S. in the coming week.

Katia is centered about 450 miles (725 kilometers) south of Bermuda and is moving northwest near 10 mph (17 kph).