Tropical Storm Florence appears to be heading Bermuda?s way and forecast to become a hurricane but is not yet considered a threat to the Island, according to meteorologists.

Florence was 1,257 nautical miles to the south-east of Bermuda at 6 p.m. last night with winds of more than 40 knots or 46 miles an hour.

Meteorologist Kimberley Zuill, from Bermuda Weather Service, said that the latest advice from the US National Hurricane Centre was that it would become a hurricane by 9 a.m. on Friday.

In the meantime, it is travelling west north-west in the direction of the Island. By 6 p.m. on Friday it is predicted to be 612 nautical miles to the south south-east of Bermuda.

?It is not a threat at the moment,? said Ms Zuill. ?Our threat parameters happen when the storm is much closer. However we do obviously need to keep abreast of the updates of this system. It?s our peak hurricane season.?

She said that Florence was currently moving between us and the US. ?The system will be steadily increasing, steadily strengthening over the next few days,? she said. ?It?s south of us but it?s moving towards us. But still in 72 hours, by 6 p.m. on Friday, it?s going to be just over 600 miles to our south south-east. That?s when things become uncertain. ?It?s too early to say in the long-range what?s going to be happening with Florence. We will be issuing watches and warnings.?

Florence will only become a potential threat to Bermuda if it is expected to pass within 400 nautical miles of the Island within the next 72 hours. A threat is when that distance reduces to 200 nautical miles.

?When that happens we have watches and warnings based on the strength of the wind,? said Ms Zuill. ?It becomes a hurricane when sustained winds are above 64 knots. It?s not a hurricane at the moment but it?s forecast to become one.?