Hurricane Wilma and Tropical Depression Alpha were categorised as potential threats to Bermuda yesterday evening, but the Weather Service reassured Islanders that the worst they can expect are gale force winds.

Meteorologist James Morrrison said showers and gales are likely late today as Wilma passes to the Northwest, but there will be no ?direct hit? to the Island.

A statement on the Bermuda Weather Service webiste today said: "Winds will gradually increase later today as Hurricane Wilma moves off the east coast of Florida reaching gale force at times tonight and Tuesday as Wilma passes to the distant northwest."

His reassurance came after both Alpha and Wilma inched closer than originally predicted through the course of yesterday.

The ?potential threat? warning was issued at 6 p.m. yesterday after it became apparent that both would come within 400 nautical miles of Bermuda, as they pass between it and the US East Coast.

Tropical Depression Alpha?s closest point of approach is predicted to be at 3 a.m. tomorrow when it is set to pass 325 nautical miles to the west-southwest.

Wilma ? which pounded Mexico?s Gulf Coast over the weekend ? will come closest .at 9 a.m. tomorrow when she is likely to be around 304 miles to the northwest.

Mr. Morrison said Tropical Depression Alpha will be absorbed by Hurricane Wilma at some point but that this would not trigger a ?super storm?. In fact, he said, Wilma will continue to weaken in strength.

?By mid-Tuesday the systems will be at their closet to Bermuda with Wilma as a weak Category One storm. Gale force winds of 30 to 35 knots are possible as the systems will have a knock-on effect on the Island, but there will not be a direct hit,? he said.

However, speaking at 6.30 p.m. yesterday, he added that ?anything could happen? over the next 12 hours, and that people should keep an eye on the weather forecasts.

The news came after Bermuda was hit by a torrent of rain on Saturday night, with 1.36 inches of rain falling between 9 p.m. on Saturday and 3 a.m. on Sunday, bringing the total rainfall so far this month to 3.27 inches.

Meteorologist Declan O?Connell said that although the rain was heavy, it was not unusual for more than an inch to fall in such a short space of time. But Police asked boatowners to check their vessels.

This year?s Atlantic hurricane season has been the most active since 1933. For the first time ever, the National Hurricane Centre in Miami had to resort to using the Greek alphabet to name Tropical Storm Alpha, after all 21 names pre-assigned for storms this year were used up.