Two years after Hurricane Fabian wrought havoc to the Island another hurricane is due to come within 30 miles of Bermuda tomorrow.

The Bermuda Weather Service said at 6 a.m. today that Tropical Storm Nate is expected to grow into a category one hurricane overnight.

The Weather Service said the hurricane could bring 74 to 95 mile per hour winds to the Island by tomorrow afternoon.

?But there may be gusts stronger than that,? warned metereologist Kimberley Zuill.

She said Nate was similar to Hurricane Emily, which hit Bermuda at 10.30 a.m. on September 25, 1987.

?It is similar to Emily as it is being caught up in another front,? Ms Zuill said.

However, whereas Emily was barely a Category One, Nate is projected to be a strong Category One.

At 6 a.m. today the Bermuda Weather Service said the closest point of approach was 43 nautical miles to the south-southeast of the Island and is a threat.

This morning, the storm was 235 nautical miles south-southwest of the Island and moving northwest at two knots. It was packing winds of 60 knots gusting to 75 knots.

The storm is expected to turn to the northeast around 3 a.m. tomorrow morning.

The National Hurricane Centre in Miami said yesterday that the stormn was a threat to the Island.

?Interests in Bermuda should closely monitor the progress of Nate,? it said. ?Maximum sustained winds are near 60 m.p.h. with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours and Nate could become a hurricane on Wednesday.?

Government is taking Tropical Storm Nate seriously with a meeting of the Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO) taking place later today to assess the Island?s hurricane preparedness.

?The EMO will issue additional information as conditions and forecasts warrant,? a Government spokeswoman said yesterday.

?Acting Minister of Home Affairs and Public Safety, Terry Lister is being kept advised of the progress of the storm.?

Government urged the public to take all sensible and precautionary preparations.

?In anticipation of strong wind gusts, we suggest that people get batteries for their radios, ensure their property is secure and stock up on non-perishable items,? the spokeswoman said.

?This is the time to prepare, use it wisely.?

Government pointed the public to hurricane and storm information on Page 43 of the Government Blue Pages for more information. The Government Emergency Broadcast Station is found at 100.1 FM. while Nate?s whereabouts can be tracked on cable channel four or www.weather.bm.

Bermuda International Airport General Manager James Howessaid the Airport Hurricane Emergency Planning Committee will meet this morning.

?We will be monitoring the storm?s intensity and path to decide when to implement further steps,? Mr. Howes said.

?If, indeed, it does become a Category One Hurricane and is predicted on Thursday afternoon to directly hit Bermuda on Friday morning, we will begin to secure the airport and all airline flights would be discontinued as of Thursday evening. That is a big ?if? right now, though.?