HAMILTON, Bermuda, (Reuters) – Tropical Storm Leslie churned east of Bermuda on Sunday, buffeting the island with stiff winds and rain and heading on a path that may carry it to Canada’s easternmost province of Newfoundland.
A tropical storm warning remained in effect across Bermuda, where forecasters warned hazardous surf and rip currents were expected to continue through Monday.
Most flights in and out of the island were canceled on Sunday. Bu s and ferry services were suspended.
At 5:00 p . m . ( 21 00 GMT) Leslie was 1 75 miles (2 80 km) east- northeast of the British territory, heading north at 14 miles per hour (22 k ph) with the center of the storm beginning to move away from the island, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
It had sustained winds of 60 miles per hour (96 kph) and could strengthen to a Category 1 hurricane over the open Atlantic on Tuesday with winds reaching 75 miles per hour (120 kph).
As Leslie pushes north, swells generated by the storm are expected to affect parts of the U.S. East Coast, the northern Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Forecast models show Leslie may approach Canada’s Newfoundland on Tuesday as a full-blown hurricane.
