Hurricane Gert is set to batter Bermuda with winds over 100 mph today when it rages past the Island.

Latest forecasts last night showed the storm was veering much closer to the Island than originally thought, although it is not predicted to hit Bermuda directly.

At 6 p.m. last night, the National Hurricane Center in Miami predicted that at its closest point, Gert would be 70 statute miles (62 nautical miles) to the east and south east of the Island at 4 p.m. today.

Twenty-four hours earlier, the Hurricane Center forecast the storm would be 105 nautical miles east of the Island at noon at its closest point.

Seas are predicted to be three to five feet higher than normal inside the reef leading to flooding in low lying areas. There were reports last night that massive waves had caused part of South Road to collapse at John Smith's Bay in Smith's Parish.

The Center predicts tropical storm winds of 39 to 72 mph to have started by 1 a.m. today, predominantly in the northeast of the Island. Between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. the Island is expected to experience hurricane force winds of up to 92 mph and gusts which could reach 103 mph.

Bermuda Weather Service meteorologist Ken Smith said the tropical storm force winds will last until 3 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. Smith said: "We're going to get widespread rain, showers and thunderstorms.

"There is going to be a lot of flying debris, trees will be down and we'll have some very high surf, particularly in the south and east of the Island.

The northwest will be a little more sheltered.

"From 1 a.m. today we will get tropical force winds, and from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m we'll get hurricane force winds, then they will be dropping back to tropical storm force until 3 a.m. on Wednesday.'' At 6 p.m. Gert was located 273 statute miles south southeast of Bermuda on a latitude of 28.6 degrees north, longitude of 62.9 west. It was travelling north northwest at nine miles per hour with sustained winds of 120 mph, gusting to 150 mph. When asked if Gert could twist west onto the Island, Mr.

Smith said: "Of course there is that chance, but I can't forecast that at this time.

"They change every six hours and can be very unpredictable, that's why they are given names like people.

"When I left this morning, the closest point was predicted to be 105 miles, now it is 62 miles, that's just in the past 12 hours. But we're not forecasting (a hit) at this time.'' Gert's strongest winds will be in its northeast quadrant, but Bermuda will lie to its northwest at the beginning of the storm. If the hurricane progresses as predicted, Bermuda will be at the west and then the south west of the storm.

BWS meteorologist Dave Forbes said the waves and swell outside the reef will be 15 to 28 feet, and seven to 14 feet inside the reef. Seas are anticipated to be up to five feet higher than normal leading to flooding in some areas.

He said: "It will be very hard on the sand, leading to beach erosion and lower areas could be flooded. There are lots of areas where the seas can break over so it could be a real problem for someone on a bike.

"Even with a car, I wouldn't want to be in it with the surf breaking over. In the southeast, there will be large battering waves coming onshore.'' The prediction was proving correct last night as huge waves were flooding South Road around John Smith's Bay in South Road, Smith's Parish.

Sgt. Donald Grant of Bermuda Police said there were unconfirmed reports that massive waves had collapsed part of South Road last night around John Smith's Bay.

Police put out an advisory note warning people to avoid using the road because mountainous waves were flooding the surface making it difficult to pass.

"We've got severe flooding on South Road by John Smith's Bay where the waves are extremely huge,'' he said.

"It's difficult for traffic to get through there and we have put out an advisory that people should stay away from this area. We've also had some reports that the road is collapsing.'' Police also put out a similar warning urging people not to travel near Clearwater Beach, St. George's Parish, because of large waves breaking onto roads.

Meanwhile, tropical storm Harvey is forecast to pass 322 miles northwest of Bermuda at 2 a.m. on Thursday.

The storm, which is currently 1440 miles west southwest of the Island, is blowing winds of 45 mph with gusts of up to 56 mph.