This weekend's weather may not be a washout, according to the experts — even though there are three tropical systems in the Atlantic.

Bermuda Weather Service forecaster Nick Camizzi told The Royal Gazette last night that Tropical Storm Fiona — the only one posing a potential threat to the Island — was expected to weaken considerably as it passes to our west.

He said Hurricane Earl was likely to be too far away to cause much wind, and Tropical Storm Gaston, which was upgraded from a tropical depression yesterday, would "chug along to the west north west over the next five days".

Mr. Camizzi advised that we might have scattered showers, thunder, choppy seas and 25 to 30 knot (about 29 to 35 mph) winds — but not much else. "Fiona is a 50 knot (57.6 mph) tropical storm currently," he said.

"I would urge everyone to keep watching but at this point when Fiona is at its closest point of approach — which looks to be about Sunday morning — it's actually supposed to weaken into a tropical depression, so we have 30 knot (34.6 mph) winds.

"We are not looking at a large impact from Fiona at all."

He said Earl — largely responsible for the cloudy conditions of yesterday — was expected to pass very close to the coast of North Carolina in the US, some 500 miles away. "We are not really expecting much impact at all from Earl," he added.

Gaston, meanwhile, is expected to come about 1,000 miles to our south east on Monday.

"We'll continue to watch that," said Mr. Camizzi, adding that it was a Cape Verde system. "That tends to be where tropical cyclones that hit Bermuda at this time of year originate from."

He said strong winds were forecast over the weekend and waves outside the reef were likely to average about ten feet.

Mr. Camizzi said: "Inside the reef, generally, the waves are only a couple of feet in situations like that.

"At the same time, on Sunday we are still looking at 25, maybe 30 knot winds. It's still going to be quite rough and choppy."

A small craft warning is in place until tomorrow (Friday) night and could be extended.

On the prospect of sunshine, the forecaster said: "We are just thinking that there will be scattered showers. It won't be a washout."

He said there was a chance that if Fiona didn't fall apart, as it may do, there could be rain on Sunday.

"With three tropical systems in the Atlantic, it's really difficult to forecast with a lot of certainty. It makes our job a little bit tougher."

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