Beta extends record Atlantic storm season

TROPICAL Storm Beta was last night heading toward an archipelago off the coast of Nicaragua, forcing the evacuations of hundreds of tourists and residents in its path.

Meteorologists said Beta was on track to reach hurricane strength late yesterday, which would make it the 13th hurricane of the already record-breaking Atlantic season of a total 23 named storms.

The US National Hurricane Centre in Miami issued a hurricane warning for San Andres and the nearby island of Providencia both far-flung possessions of Colombia about 450 miles away.