The Bermuda Weather Service said at 9am on Sunday Tropical Storm Leslie's closest point of approach is expected to be 145 miles (126 nautical miles) east of Bermuda at noon on Sunday.

It is currently about 172 miles (150 nautical miles) southeast of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 65mph. Leslie is moving north at 9 mph.

It has sustained winds of 60mph with gusts of 70mph.

It added that tropical force storm winds extend outward for up to 195 miles from the eye of the storm.

Rain bands are now over Bermuda and Leslie is expected to produce between two and four inches of rain for Bermuda.

All flights are cancelled except British Airways evening flight. The Airport will be closed between 9:30am and 4pm.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 8: Tropical storm conditions are expected to hit Bermuda in the next 36 hours, according to forecasters.

But the eye of Tropical Storm Leslie is still tracking to the east of the island.

A Tropical Storm warning has been issued by the Bermuda Weather Service.

A weather update at 6am this morning by the Bermuda Weather Service stated: "Winds will gradually increase with a few showers and a developing risk of thunder today as Leslie continues its approach.

"Isolated thunderstorms and heavy showers are expected within rain bands on Sunday, with tropical storm force winds expected by midday Sunday, with storm force gusts around showers. Hazardous surf and rip currents continue into Monday."

Tropical Storm Leslie remains a threat to the island and the closest point of approach to Bermuda within the next 72 hours is forecast to be 164 miles to the east at 1pm on Sunday.

At 6am today Leslie was 283 miles south southeast of Bermuda and packing winds of between 55 and 65 knots.

The 6am update from the National Hurricane Center stated: "Leslie is moving toward the north near 5mph and this general motion is expected to continue through Sunday with a gradual increase in forward speed.

"A turn toward the north north-east is expected on Sunday night.

"On the forecast track the center of Leslie is expected to pass east of Bermuda on Sunday."

The National Hurricane Center said that Leslie could regain hurricane status over the weekend.

Its 6am update added:"Leslie is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of two to four inches in Bermuda." 

The next weather update will be at 12 noon.

FRIDAY, SEPT 7, 12:00PM: The eye of Leslie still looks set to pass by the east of Bermuda, forecasters said today.

But as Leslie stalled this morning, they urged islanders not to let their guard down as tropical storm conditions are likely this weekend and the storm's movements remain unpredictable.

Leslie has weakened to a tropical storm but is expected to regain hurricane strength.

Meteorologist Dennis Feltgen, from the National Hurricane Center in Miami, told the Bermuda Sun shortly before 11am: "Right now the island of Bermuda has a Tropical Storm Watch.

"Tropical storm conditions are nothing to fool around with. People should expect tropical storm conditions as a possibility.

"At this moment we are looking for the centre of the storm to pass to the east of Bermuda but that could still change.

"People should be looking at their hurricane plans and getting their supplies in. One of the fortunate things about the storm sitting out there and being stationary for so long is that it has stirred up the water, bringing the cold water to the top and keeping the strength of the storm down."

According to a 12pm update by the Bermuda Weather Service, the storm remains a threat to the island.

Its closest point of approach within the next 72 hours is expected to be 174 nautical miles east-southeast of Bermuda at 4pm on Sunday.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 185 miles.

At 12pm Leslie was 357 nautical miles south southeast of Bermuda with winds near 70mph and higher gusts.

"But the hurricane is expected to drift slowly toward the north or north north-west later today followed by a slightly faster motion toward the north tonight and Saturday."

Kimberley Zuill, at the Bermuda Weather Service, told the Sun: "The centre of the hurricane at the moment is stationary but the track is forecasted to continue east.

"It has been stationary for some time and that makes it an extremely difficult system to forecast. We don't want people to become complacent.

"There is still uncertainty in the track and several scenarios can occur. We continue to be on standby.

"It is going to be a very windy weekend with tropical storm winds predicted."

An update posted by the National Hurricane Center in Miami this morning stated: "Leslie has been nearly stationary during the past few hours.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 6, 9:45AM: Hurricane Leslie might not come as close to Bermuda as previously feared, a local forecaster said this morning.

The latest forecast has the eye of the massive storm passing roughly 115 miles to the east of the island.

But the outlook is subject to change and islanders are urged not to be complacent.

According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Leslie is currently a slow-moving, Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 75mph, with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is expected during the next 48 hours.

Leslie's hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the eye and tropical force winds extend outward up to 195 miles.

Jeff Torgerson of the Bermuda Weather Service said: "The track is still in the forecast envelope, although the storm is to the right, or east, of Bermuda."

But he warned: "We still expect tropical storm force winds across the region on Saturday afternoon and storm force winds with hurricane force gusts [on Sunday] as the storm moves north and east."

Hurricane Leslie appeared on Wednesday to be on target to score a direct hit on the island - but its expected track has shifted to the east overnight.

Mr Torgerson said: "It might shift back a bit - we can't rule that out - but it looks like it will pass us to the east."

He added: "We are still expecting a significant storm - it's best to hope for the best and prepare for the worst."

Leslie, according to today's 6am weather update, was around 380 nautical miles south-southeast of the island and packing gusts of up to 80 knots.

It was heading north at 1 knot and is expected to be at its closest point to the island around 3am on Sunday morning.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 5 12PM: Hurricane Leslie was at noon today predicted to be a Category 2 storm when it hits Bermuda.

The latest update from forecasters said that Leslie is likely to reach Category 1 status by 9pm tonight and continue to gather strength as it maintains its two knots progress towards the island.

A spokesman for the Bermuda Weather Service said the weather will begin to deteriorate as the weekend approaches.

He added: "By Saturday, all precautions need to be completed and ideally by Friday night - we all need to be gearing up in that direction."

Leslie is now around 410 nautical miles south-south east of Bermuda and moving north towards the island at around two knots.

The storm is currently packing gusts of up to 75 knots.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 4: Hurricane Leslie is on track to hit Bermuda in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Leslie, currently a Tropical Storm but gathering strength, is forecast to be a Category 2 hurricane by Saturday.

A spokeswoman for the Bermuda Weather Service said: "This storm is large in size, so we will probably experience tropical storm force winds on Friday night.

"It's going to be windy for a while, a bit like Igor two years ago."

A Category 2 storm means sustained winds of at least 83-95 knots, with possible gusts of up to 110 knots.

Leslie is around 472 nautical miles south-south east of Bermuda and moving north at around four knots.

*Image courtesy of the Bermuda Weather Service

Horseshoe Bay closed to swimmers

TUESDAY, SEPT. 4: The Department of Parks' Lifeguard Service has advised that the surf conditions at Horseshoe Bay are too dangerous to allow entry for swimming hence the Lifeguards there have closed down the beach to swimmers.

Following a final inspection of the beach at approximately 12pm today, the lifeguard services at Horseshoe Bay Beach was suspended after ensuring that DO NOT ENTER WATER signs were erected at the beach.

Lifeguard coverage at Horseshoe will remain suspended for the rest of the week until conditions considerably improve.

The red high surf warning signs remain erected along the South Shore from Church Bay, Southampton through to and including John Smith's Bay, Smiths.

Lifeguard coverage remains at Clearwater Beach and Turtle Beach. Lifeguards seasonal coverage to Cooper's Island Long Bay stopped as of yesterday evening.

The public is asked to heed the warnings of the signs to avoid placing the lives of rescue personnel at risk during these dangerous surf conditions.

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