Tropical Storm Debby gained in strength yesterday, but while it continued to head in the general direction of Bermuda forecasters predicted it would give the Island a wide berth.

Although the National Hurricane Centre in Miami predicts that the storm will eventually become a hurricane, the long-range track has it moving over the open Atlantic for the next four days before veering off the north and missing Bermuda.

On that course, it would not threaten the south eastern United States or the oil-producing US Gulf Coast where the record-breaking 2005 hurricane season caused havoc.

Debby was located west north west of the Cape Verde islands yesterday, packing winds of 45 mph.

It was expected to be 916 nautical miles to the east south east of Bermuda by Saturday evening.