Tropical Storm Leslie, which was forecast to attain Category 1 hurricane strength tonight, continues to buffet the island with winds.

However the meandering storm is not predicted to threaten the island — although rough seas mean a small craft warning, likely to endure through Thursday.

Strong north-easterly winds will gradually turn northerly as the storm progresses, according to the Bermuda Weather Service.

As of noon today, Leslie was 520m east of Bermuda and heading south-southwest at 8mph, with winds of 63mph gusting to 75mph.

Its closest point of approach in the next 72 hours was predicted to be 485m east of the island by 6am on Thursday.

Weather models showed the system backtracking onto a northerly course tomorrow.

According to the National Hurricane Centre, the new course will weaken the storm by sending it back over cooler waters left in its wake.

The NHC site added: “By the weekend, the models suggest that Leslie should turn eastward when it moves in the mid-latitude westerlies.”

Swells from Leslie are also being felt at the US East Coast, the Bahamas and most of the Greater and Lesser Antilles.