ATLANTA -- Georgians are keeping an eye on Hurricane Ike, which strengthened to a dangerous Category 4 storm in the Atlantic Wednesday with maximum sustained winds near 145 mph.

Ike is the third major hurricane of the Atlantic season.

Ike's center was located about 550 miles northwest of the Leeward Islands and was moving west-northwest at about 17 mph.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Thursday that the storm is expected to continue on its current track Thursday before turning more to the west. It's too soon to tell which land areas could be threatened.

Tropical Storm Josephine is behind Ike.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Hanna was just east of the Bahamas and heading northwest early Thursday, a day after knocking out power to the southern Bahamas.

In the United States, a hurricane watch was issued for the area from Edisto Beach, S.C., north to Surf City, N.C. And a tropical storm watch was issued for Edisto Beach and south to Altamaha Sound, Ga. A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours. A watch means tropical storm conditions tropical storm conditions are possible within 36 hours.