Boston (ECN) - It is fully expected that Tropical Storm Hanna will gain in strength enough to be considered a hurricane later in the day on Thursday.

Tropical Storm Hanna is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as early as Thursday at the southeast coast of the U.S.

It has already hit Haiti and the Bahamas hard with rough rains for a long perio dof time.

Hurricane Hanna, according to the National Hurricane center, has sustained winds of around 60 mph as of Wednesday night.

It is believed that it could strengthen into a hurricane and hit the U.S. East Coast this weekend in the Carolinas, and then go to the northeast.

Thhis comes as Ike continues to strengthen in the Atlantic as well with 80 mph winds.