Tropical storm Danny gathered strength over the Atlantic Ocean Wednesday, and forecasters warned it could become a hurricane by the end of the week, though it remained far from land.

Danny's maximum sustained winds reached nearly 50 miles per hour (85 kilometers per hour), and the eye of the storm was about 1,385 miles east of the Lesser Antilles islands in the Caribbean, the National Hurricane Center reported.

It added that Danny could reach the islands by Monday and said it was likely to gain strength in the coming days.

"Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Danny could become a hurricane by Friday," the Miami-based forecasters said.

But the storm remained far away from land Wednesday and the NHC said there were no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

It was barreling westward at 12 miles per hour, the center said, and could slow its pace slightly while tilting northward over the next two days.

Danny is the fourth storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began in June and ends in November.

Experts said earlier this month that there was a 90 percent chance the 2015 hurricane season in the Atlantic would be less active than usual.

They said this may be due to the strong El Nino weather pattern that is unfolding this year.