Hurricane Katia crept westward in the deep Atlantic

Hurricane Katia crept westward in the deep Atlantic on Thursday, just one week after Irene caused massive flooding in the US northeast.Packing winds of 75 miles (120 kilometers) per hour, the category one Katia threatened to become a major hurricane by the weekend. Katia remained some 1,065 miles (1,710 kilometers) east of the Leeward islands -- too far to affect any land mass -- and there was a chance it would cycle north and disintegrate without hitting the North American mainland.The new hurricane approached as US President Barack Obama declared a "major" disaster area in New Jersey and  also announced plans to visit the flood-hit state on Sunday to view damage wrought by Hurricane Irene, the Atlantic season's first.