A tropical storm watch was issued yesterday for Bermuda as Hurricane Bertha approaches the Island from the southeast.

Last night the Bermuda Weather Service predicted that the Island would experience overcasts and occasional showers today and tomorrow.

Hurricane Bertha was set to come within 131 nautical miles to the east of Bermuda early Monday and may cause moderate to strong wind speeds of 34 to 63 knots, in addition to significant waves and swell.

Bertha is predicted to be a Category One hurricane and is expected to pass the Island to the east in the early hours of Monday.

However, the weekend's weather may bring good news to homeowners on the Island who are struggling with the recent water supply shortage. At 11 p.m. last night, Bertha was 224 nautical miles south east of Bermuda. Bertha's winds were clocked at 80 knots.

The duty meteorologist told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "one thing that looks quite positive, if that's the right word to use, is that there is a hurricane to the east. That is likely to bring us some healthy rain, which obviously we need because we are so far below average for this time of year."

In the past six weeks the Island has had only 1.38 inches of rain, that is about 20 percent of the normal rainfall for this time of year.

Minister of Works and Engineering Derrick Burgess announced yesterday that the low rainfall has gradually emptied water storage tanks and placed water truck services in high demand.

He said: "The combined water supply systems on the Island are not able to keep pace with such a high demand and shortages have resulted."

According to Russ Ford, Vice President of the Bermuda Water Truckers' Association (BWTA): "the demand is so high right now we can't keep up with the supply. Many owners and companies have found themselves behind three to five days (in getting customers water)."

"I know for my particular company we have probably 120 loads on our waiting list right now. And I know other companies have long waiting lists because they can't get the demand out fast enough."

Though Hurricane Bertha is set to bring occasional showers this weekend, Mr. Ford says most of this will be "garden water"; local roofs are generally unable to catch rains carried by strong winds. Mr. Ford advised the public to conserve as much water as possible by utilising local laundry mats, taking baths instead of long showers and being mindful when washing hands and brushing their teeth. He also stressed the importance of checking plumbing, which can waste hundreds of gallons of water.

"We are asking persons to please conserve, check their tanks before they run dry which will help to facilitate getting water on a more timely basis," he said. "If they give sufficient notice prior to running dry we can plan ahead in order to get them water, instead of having to be in crisis mode. Conservation is definitely key, this is everybody's concern."