Hurricane Fred is now the season's second major hurricane but appears to be no threat to land and will likely weaken by Thursday, forecasters said Wednesday morning.

Fred is moving harmlessly in the faraway Atlantic, according to the 11 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The storm's winds were clocked at nearly 120 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane.

Hurricane Bill reached Category 4 strength earlier last month.

Fred is on a path likely to make it short-lived. By Friday, forecasters expect it to run into stronger wind shear and dry air. Then, if it tracks as forecast, it will run into cooler waters that could knock it back to a depression by Monday.

The latest tracking data had Fred more than 3,000 miles from Miami and moving northwest at 13 mph.

Forecasters expect it to move more north in the next few days, well away from any land.

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