(CNN) -- Ophelia strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane early Friday, packing winds of 100 mph as it swirled across the Atlantic far from land, the National Hurricane Center said.
The system had appeared to be weakening several days ago, only to regroup and intensify.
At 5 a.m. ET, Ophelia was about 695 miles south-southeast of Bermuda. It was heading north-northwest at nine miles an hour, the Miami-based center said.
Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, according to the hurricane center. The extended forecast map shows Ophelia passing east of Bermuda, where a tropical storm watch is in effect.
Hurricane-force winds extended about 30 miles from the storm's eye, center said. Tropical storm-force winds have been recorded 175 miles away.
"A turn to the north with an increase in forward speed is expected later today," according to the hurricane center.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Philippe was churning farther east in the Atlantic, with its eye some 1,850 miles east-northeast of the Leeward Islands.
"Some strengthening is possible today...but weakening is likely to begin late Saturday or Sunday," the hurricane center said. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.
Philippe was heading northwest at around 13 mph, with a shift to the west-northwest forecast for Friday night and Saturday. No land areas have been affected or are in the storm's path through the forecast period, which now extends into Wednesday morning.
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