Annual hurricane plays

[Track]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Ingrid, the ninth Atlantic storm of the year, formed on Thursday in the Atlantic Ocean east of the Caribbean islands, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

The storm, located about 840 miles east of the lesser Antilles, was headed in the general direction of the northeastern Caribbean but was days from having any impact on land.

Top sustained winds were near 40 mph (65 kph) with higher gusts, the center said, adding a small increase in strength was possible in the next 24 hours.