Island braces for landfall of Hurricane Florence

FLORENCE intensified into the second hurricane of the Atlantic season yesterday as it headed for Bermuda, where residents installed storm shutters and hauled their yachts onto beaches.

Florence is expected to reach the tiny British territory today, according to the US National Hurricane Centre in Miami. But it was too early to tell whether it will make a direct hit.

The Category 1 hurricane, which had had maximum sustained winds near 80mph yesterday, was expected to become a Category 2 hurricane as it passes Bermuda, according to the National Hurricane Centre.

The storm was expected to veer away from the US coast as it turns north toward Bermuda, but forecasters said its large size could also create high surf and rip currents along parts of the eastern seaboard.

In Bermuda, skies turned gray and waves began to build yesterday morning local time as gusty winds blew in spits of rain.

Bermuda issued a hurricane warning, and the government urged its 65,000 residents to take precautions.

At 4pm Irish time, the centre of the hurricane was about 255 miles south-south-west of Bermuda and moving north-northwest at near 13mph.

The hurricane centre said Bermuda was expected to get 5 to 8 inches of rain, with up to 10 inches possible in some areas.