Hurricane Igor is mirroring the approach of its infamous predecessor Fabian — but this one's even bigger.

Weatherman Mark Guishard yesterday laid out some striking similarities between Igor and the storm that left four people dead and caused millions of dollars worth of damage in 2003.

Dr. Guishard told the media:

¦ Igor will be at or near Category 3 intensity as it looms towards Bermuda tomorrow night — just like Fabian;

¦ Igor's winds will hit Bermuda at 100 knots (115 miles per hour), with gusts of 120 knots (138 mph) — roughly the same as Fabian;

¦ Igor's tropical storm winds are 500 nautical miles wide — compared with 350 for Fabian.

Dr. Guishard told the media: "Not only is Igor of similar intensity to Fabian, it is actually bigger, making us an even more likely target.

"Make no mistake, even if the centre of this system misses the Island, we will experience significant impacts."

And as Igor continued to creep its way north west across the Atlantic at a speed of nine knots, the Bermuda Weather Service director warned: "The current forecast is indeed for a direct hit on the island, the worst case scenario in these situations."

Dr. Guishard said waves at the centre of Igor are more than 50 feet high, and that by noon yesterday large swells were starting to appear on the South Shore.

Rip currents and battering waves will appear on the reef line, he said, with potentially dangerous surf at the beaches.

Dr. Guishard said Igor's storm surge — the rise in the baseline level of the water — will be five to seven feet, although the wind will drive waves higher than that. He urged property owners to guard against the surge, saying high tides would be in the pre-dawn hours and early evenings, and low tides near noon and midnight.

There is also the potential for tornadoes, as with Fabian and Hurricane Emily from 1987, several hours before the worst conditions set in, while isolated road flooding is expected due to heavy rainfall during the storm.

Dr. Guishard added that despite all the scientific studying methods, tropical systems are notoriously difficult to predict because of sudden changes in track and intensity. "We all hope and pray that Igor will veer a little further away than is currently forecast, but we must take all action now to prepare to safeguard life and property," he said.

"Please have a plan of action to protect your life, your family, your property and your business. If you have a plan, please implement it now — Saturday evening will be too late to make any further preparations. "As I have already said in previous media statements, this is not the time to be complacent. Be safe and God bless."