Tropical storm Henri has formed in the Atlantic east of Bermuda but poses no danger to populated areas, US weather forecasters said Thursday.

The storm, which was packing 40 mile (65 kilometer) per hour winds, was on a northeasterly track parallel to the United States and Canada but at a safe distance from shore, the National Hurricane Center said.

It was expected to lose strength as it reaches colder northern water in the coming days, the Miami-based forecaster said.

Located 230 miles (370 kilometers) southeast of Bermuda at 0900 GMT, Henri is the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began in June and ends in November. It typically peaks in September.

Only two of those storms have reached hurricane strength, but to date the most destructive has been tropical storm Erika, which left at least 31 dead and two dozen missing after striking the tiny Caribbean island of Dominica last month.

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted that the current season will be less active than usual, with at most four hurricanes.