forecasters continue to keep watch on Hurricane Edouard, Hurricane Fran, and tropical storm Gustav as they rip their way west-northwest towards the Leeward Islands, Antigua, and the Barbados.

Edouard regained its Category 4 status and was last night packing 120 knot winds as it continued its west-northwest course towards the North American coast. As of 6 p.m. yesterday Edouard's eye was at latitude 25.1 degrees north, longitude 69.5 degrees west and moving steadily at 11 knots.

While not considered a threat to Bermuda, its forecast track should put it between Bermuda and Cape Hatteras North Carolina, by Saturday.

Its closest approach will be about 450 nautical miles southwest of Bermuda.

Already Edouard's influence is being felt on the south shore with the Bermuda Weather Service calling for eight- to 12-foot swells outside the reef and warning of strong rip-tides and currents.

"I don't think we'll see any of the really strong winds closer to the eye of the storm but we may see some of the 35-knot winds,'' said Weather Service meteorologist Trudy Wohlleben.

Meanwhile Hurricane Fran, with 75mph winds and moving at 15 knots, was expected to brush just north of the Leeward Islands by early this morning and continue to gain strength as it followed in Edouard's path.

Hot on its trail was tropical storm Gustav, centred about 860 miles west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands.

Forecasters were also keeping an eye on a fourth tropical "wave'' which was forming off the west coast of Africa.