Bermudians slept with an eye on Hurricane Lili last night as it left Cuba and headed towards the Island.

The last advisory of the day from the Bermuda Weather Service reported the hurricane's position at 993 nautical miles southwest of Bermuda near latitude 22.8 north and longitude 79.2 west.

The storm -- which has killed at least ten people so far -- was travelling east north east at 12 knots.

Maximum sustained winds were said to be blowing at 80 knots with gusts up to 110 knots.

A spokesman for the National Hurricane Centre in Miami said: "Some strengthening is possible in the next 24 hours.'' But he added that it was still too early to tell for sure what the hurricane would do.

While predictions were for it to pass close to Bermuda, he added that there was still a chance that it could miss the Island by a wide margin.

He advised people to keep watching today for more information as forecasters would have a better idea of what track Lili would take.

Early yesterday, predictions had the storm passing 34 nautical miles southeast of the Island at 10 p.m. on Sunday.

Later predictions had Lili passing Bermuda 65 nautical miles to the southeast at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Yesterday's final reported prediction had the storm passing Bermuda at 9 p.m.

on Sunday -- 160 nautical miles southeast of Bermuda.

A Weather Service spokesman said he was glad to see the hurricane moving as that made tracking it easier.

Before, it would "move a little, stop, go back and then move again'', he said.

By this morning forecasters would have a better idea of what it was going to do, he said.

Meanwhile he said he remained "cautiously optimistic'', adding that Bermuda could expect some rain and 20 to 30 knot winds if the Lili continued its present course.

Emergency Measures Organisation spokesman Chief Superintendent Phil Every said the group was watching the hurricane to see what direction it took and were making routine checks of its equipment.

As it was early days yet, he continued, Lili could still change direction.

When it got closer and predictions became clearer, he said, the EMO would take its preparations up a notch if necessary.

Police press officer Evelyn James-Barnett said Marine Police officers were warning boat owners to check and secure their moorings in anticipation of the Lili's approach.

She added that canopies and any movable objects should also be secured.

But she stressed that boat owners should do this while the weather was calm and if conditions deteriorated they should stay ashore.

Hoteliers were adopting a wait and see attitude last night while uncertain about the hurricane's course.

The Reefs' general manager Neal Stephens said he would see if forecasters had a more concrete idea of what course Lili would take this morning before securing the hotel.

Pink Beach Club managing director Toppy Cowen said there was very little tidal surge at the South Shore location which was surprising.

Normally, he continued, surge increased as a storm approached the Island.

While there were some swells yesterday they were not what he expected, he said. Mr. Cowen said he would make a decision this morning and would take the necessary precautions.

These included securing the beach umbrellas and putting the outdoor furniture inside.

He said if things looked like they were going to worsen then he would begin boarding up rooms.

Meanwhile, Ariel Sands general manager Jason Powell said he was keeping an eye on things and did not plan to worry until he also saw surge.

He added that while Lili was scheduled to pass quite close to the Island "there is room in that prediction for some 300 miles worth of error''.

If he needed to he would start securing the property this morning, said Mr.

Powell.

Gorham's Limited senior buyer Andrew Mackay said the store would be "a madhouse'' today, if the hurricane were to head for the Island.

He added that shoppers had held off buying supplies for the hurricane until they knew for sure what it was doing.

UP-SWINGER -- The Bermuda Weather Service map above shows the route forecasters were projecting Hurricane Lili would take as of 6 p.m. last night after it began spinning away from Cuba.