MIAMI (AP) – Forecasters say Hurricane Irene has gotten a bit stronger as it starts lashing the southeastern Bahamas.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Wednesday afternoon that Irene’s winds had strengthened to about 120 mph (193 kph). The storm was centered about 250 miles (402 kilometers) southeast of the Bahamian capital of Nassau, though forecasters say hurricane conditions are already occurring over the southeastern Bahamas.

Irene is expected to get stronger over warm ocean waters and could become a Category 4 storm with winds of at least 131 mph (211 kph) by Thursday.

Irene was moving to the northwest at 12 mph (19 kph) on its path to the U.S. East Coast.