The intensity held around 80 mph ( 130 km\/h ) before strengthening slightly late on September 22 , despite losing some tropical characteristics ( it was operationally downgraded to a tropical storm for a brief period ) as it sped up northeast in the north Atlantic . The intensity held around 80 mph ( 130 km\/h ) before strengthening slightly late on September 22 , despite losing some tropical characteristics ( it was operationally downgraded to a tropical storm for a brief period ) as it accelerated northeast in the north Atlantic .