Leslie on track to bypass Bermuda

HAMILTON, Bermuda – Tropical Storm Leslie swirled northward in the Atlantic late Saturday toward Bermuda, and forecasters said it might strengthen into a hurricane again while passing to the east of this wealthy British territory.

Forecasts pointed to the storm following a track about 200 miles east-southeast of the British territory this afternoon or evening, the Bermuda Weather Service said.

“Bermuda seems to have escaped the worst of Tropical Storm Leslie,” said Wayne Perinchief, the national security minister. “However, we should by no means let our guard down as we are still expecting strong winds and rain as well as dangerous ocean conditions overnight and well into Sunday.”

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said that by late Saturday, the storm was maintaining top sustained winds of 65 mph, below the hurricane threshold of 74 mph.

The U.S. center said some strengthening was expected and Leslie could regain hurricane strength today or tonight.

Out in the middle of the Atlantic and considered no threat to land, Hurricane Michael remained a category 2 storm but slowed a bit to maximum sustained winds of 100 mph. On Thursday, it was briefly the first Category 3 of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Michael was about 920 miles west-southwest of the Azores.