forecasters said last night.

Tropical Storm Erika, packing winds of 50 knots with gusts up to 60 knots, was last night was some 1,154 nautical miles south-southeast of Bermuda at 15.5 degrees north and 55 degrees west.

The Bermuda Weather Service said Erika, which was moving north-northwest at 18 knots was not a threat to Bermuda "at this time''.

American hurricane experts yesterday said the tropical storm could develop into a hurricane.

"Erika could become a hurricane during the next day or two,'' hurricane specialist Max Mayfield told the Associated Press from the National Hurricane Center in Miami. That would happen if the system's top winds reached 74 m.p.h.

Local forecasters yesterday predicted the closest point of approach is expected to be around 3 p.m. on Sunday when Erika will be some 631 nautical miles south-southwest of Bermuda.