Bermuda continued to prepare for Hurricane Erin on Sunday as forecaster predicted the Island could be hit by tropical storm force winds in the late afternoon.

At 6 a.m. Bermuda time, forecasters said the hurricane was situated 160 nautical miles east-southeast of Bermuda and and was moving northwest at 13 knots.

Forecasters said the closest point of approach would be at 6 p.m. on Sunday the storm would pass 60 nautical miles to the east-northeast of the Island.

At 6 a.m., Erin was packing winds of 90 knots gusting to 110 knots.

Forecasters on Saturday had said the storm would pass within 15 nautical miles of the Island at 3 p.m. on Sunday, so the new forecast was welcome news for local residents.

All airline flights into and out of the Island on Sunday were cancelled apart from an early morning American Airlines flight to New York City.

The Island's Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO) was meeting this morning to get an update on the storm.

The EMO cancelled Sunday's buses and ferries on Saturday evening and a decision on schools - which were due to start the school year on Monday - was to be made later today.

A division of the Regiment has been moved to St. George's as part of the EMO's hurricane preparedness plan.

"We have taken the necessary precautions and will keep the public informed throughout the day,'' said Government spokeswoman Valerie Pethen.

On the Net: www.weather.bm

The next update will be posted at around 12.30 p.m. Bermuda time.