AP - Meteorologists downgraded a powerful typhoon to a tropical storm Friday, but warned battered residents of southern Japan of continuing heavy rains and high waves.

Reuters - A tropical wave in the eastern Caribbean now appears less likely than previously to become a tropical depression or cyclone, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Thursday.

AP - Tropical Storm Erick formed in the open Pacific early Wednesday, but is miles from land and not expected to become a threat, according to the National Hurricane Center.

AP - Hurricane researcher William Gray lowered his 2007 forecast slightly Friday, calling for 15 named storms, with eight becoming hurricanes and four becoming intense.

AFP - Eight hurricanes are likely to form in the Atlantic this year, with four expected to reach intense strength, experts said Friday in a downward revision of earlier forecasts.

AP - Hurricane researcher William Gray lowered his 2007 forecast slightly Friday, calling for 15 named storms, with eight becoming hurricanes and four becoming intense.

Reuters - A noted hurricane research team at Colorado State University trimmed its forecast for the 2007 Atlantic storm season on Friday and predicted 15 tropical storms, with eight growing to hurricane strength.

AP - Tropical Storm Erick formed in the open Pacific early Wednesday, but is miles from land and not expected to become a threat, according to the National Hurricane Center.

AFP - Eight hurricanes are likely to form in the Atlantic this year, with four expected to reach intense strength, experts said Friday in a downward revision of earlier forecasts.

AP - Hurricane researcher William Gray lowered his 2007 forecast slightly Friday, calling for 15 named storms, with eight becoming hurricanes and four becoming intense.

AP - The Federal Emergency Management Agency has stopped donating and selling disaster trailers while it studies reports that people living in them after hurricanes Katrina and Rita got sick from formaldehyde exposure.

AP - Tropical Storm Erick formed in the open Pacific early Wednesday, but is miles from land and not expected to become a threat, according to the National Hurricane Center.

AP - Hurricane researcher William Gray lowered his 2007 forecast slightly Friday, citing cooler water in the Pacific and more atmospheric dust from Africa in predicting 15 named storms and eight hurricanes off the East and Gulf coasts of the U.S.