Meteorologists are watching closely a weather system to the east of Bermuda that could affect the Island over the next few days.

They believe an area of disturbed weather to the east/southeast may form into a tropical depression today, possibly bringing squally conditions soon after.

Last night, the system was 275 miles to the east of Bermuda and was moving toward the Island.

A Bermuda Weather Service spokesman said there was evidence of circulation within the system, but at present it lacked sufficient organisation to be classified as a tropical depression.

However, there remains a possibility that it will form into a depression in the next few hours. A tropical depression is the stage before a tropical storm.

Meanwhile, as Hurricane Floyd moves up the US East Coast, Bermudian residents are trying to re-establish links with loved ones in the Caribbean after the storm.

Bahamians fear for relatives' safety The Bahamas was hit badly by the Category 4 storm and last night communication lines with the area were down.

Dr. Bert McPhee, a Bahamian with many friends and relatives on the Island, had spoken to family members earlier yesterday, before the full force of the hurricane hit.

But last night, his wife Gloria said telephone lines had since gone dead and they had not heard from the island.

Their relatives, who include Dr. McPhee's brother and family, had told them everyone was sitting tight and bracing themselves for the worst.

Hurricane Gert is currently making progress toward the Caribbean but is expected to make a turn to the north by the weekend.

Unsettled conditions associated with the Category 3 storm could affect the Island late on Saturday and Sunday.

Gert has winds of 90 knots, gusting to 110 knots, and at present the closest point of approach is 717 nautical miles to the south/southeast on Friday afternoon.

Floyd's closest point to Bermuda was last night forecast as 651 nautical miles west/northwest on Friday morning.

Weather: Page 36