Bermuda under tropical storm warning

A tropical storm warning is in effect in Bermuda as Hurricane Lee continues to make its way north over the Atlantic.

The Bermuda Weather Service forecast this morning that the hurricane, currently a category three hurricane, will weaken to a category one hurricane by the time it passes Bermuda. Its closest point of approach is now forecast to be at midnight on Friday morning when it will be 170 miles west of Bermuda.

Lee is forecast to have sustained winds of 85 to 95mph at its core at that time, but Bermuda is forecast to experience sustained winds of 57mph with gusts up to 75mph strong.

“As Hurricane Lee continues to approach from the south, local easterly winds will strengthen to become tropical storm force with hurricane force gusts during Thursday into early Friday as Lee brushes by to our west,” the Bermuda Weather Service said.

“Rough seas, swells and dangerous surf will continue to increase as conditions rapidly deteriorate. Conditions gradually improve later on Friday.”

At 3am Bermuda time, Lee was 500 miles south of Bermuda moving northwest at 7mph. It was packing sustained winds of 115mph with gusts to 138mph.