(CNN) Hurricane Florence has weakened some but will likely strengthen again into a major hurricane and could threaten the US East Coast by next week.

An image taken from the International Space Station shows Hurricane Florence in the early morning hours over the Atlantic.

But increased wind shear over the open Atlantic -- the hurricane is more than 1,700 miles from the East Coast -- has weakened Florence to a Category 1 storm, with 80 mph winds as of 5 p.m. Thursday.

Wind shear will lessen over the weekend, and Florence should regain major hurricane intensity (Category 3 or greater) by early next week -- as the storm moves northwest, getting closer to the US coastline by the day.

Read More