Hurricane Erika was last night some 969 nautical miles south-southeast of Bermuda, packing 65 knot winds with gusts up to 80 knots.

Despite the upgrade, the Bermuda Weather Service said the hurricane was not considered a threat to the Island, "at this time''.

But Erika was expected to hit the northeastern Caribbean -- Antigua, Montserrat, Barbuda, Nevis, St. Kitts, Anguilla, St. Barthelemy and Dutch and French St. Martin -- by this afternoon.

And experts last night said Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands might experience hurricane conditions by tomorrow morning.

Erika's maximum winds are expected to increase from 80 knots to 90 knots over the next 24 hours.