RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) -- A weather system off the North Carolina coast that had an 80 percent chance of forming into a tropical system did so Sunday night -- becoming Tropical Storm Dexter, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

Earlier, just off the North Carolina coast, the area of showers and storms was being tracked for potential development. The non-tropical area of low pressure was located along a frontal boundary.

On Sunday morning, it had a 40 percent chance of developing into a tropical system by Monday -- and on Sunday night, that jumped to 80 percent.

By the time Tropical Storm Dexter formed on Sunday night, it was already 300 miles from the North Carolina coast. The storm has top sustained winds of 45 mph with higher gusts.

The National Hurricane Center is tracking the

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