Bermuda.

Winds have reached 55 knots and are expected to increase to hurricane strength by tomorrow morning. However, forecasters say she is unlikely to hit Bermuda directly. Instead she is expected to skirt the Island to the north west.

If Chantal continues on her present course, a gale watch will be issued by the Bermuda Weather Service today or tomorrow in anticipation of Chantal's closest point of approach to Bermuda at 1 p.m. tomorrow.

The storm, which formed east of Puerto Rico on Thursday veered away from the Bahamas yesterday. At 6 p.m. on Sunday she was located about 400 nautical miles south-southwest of Bermuda and moving north at 10 knots.

Her position at that time was 26.8 degrees north and 69.1 degrees west. The third major storm of an already busy season, Chantal comes in the wake of Hurricane Allison which caused minor flooding in Florida and Tropical Storm Barry that blasted through the North Atlantic before striking Canada with 70 mph winds.

An American meteorologist visiting Bermuda last month predicted eight to ten hurricanes this season, topping last year's total of seven in the Caribbean and Atlantic region.