Hurricane Bertha strengthened again into a category two storm last night as it came closer to the Island.

Bertha's top sustained winds had reached 105 miles per hour yesterday at 6 p.m. and it was 660 miles southeast of the Island.

According to the US National Hurricane Centre during the next couple of days the storm is expected to turn north-northwest and increase in strength. At 6 p.m. yesterday it was predicted to be at its closest point to the Island at 5 p.m. on Saturday at 182 nautical miles east south east of the Island.

The emergency measures organisation of the Home Affairs Minister, and representatives from the Weather Service, Harbour Radio, Police, Fire and the Regiment urged the public to continue to monitor the storm and to stay out of the sea.