The fifth tropical storm of the year is moving slowly toward Bermuda, but is expected to turn away from the Island well before making impact.

As of yesterday afternoon, Tropical Storm Edouard was more than 1,000 nautical miles to the east-southeast of the Island, moving west-northwest toward Bermuda and picking up strength.

While the storm is expected to reach Hurricane strength sometime this weekend, early forecasts have suggested that the storm will make a turn to the north early next week, passing well to the Island’s east.

The Bermuda Weather Service said the storm was not presently considered a threat to the Island, with its closest point of approach in the next few days expected to be more than 600 nautical miles away.