SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Hurricane Imelda barreled toward Bermuda on Wednesday as forecasters warned that it could swipe past the tiny British territory as a Category 2 storm.

Heavy winds and rain are expected to start hitting the island by Wednesday afternoon and continue through Thursday, with Imelda forecast to pass near or over Bermuda late in the afternoon or evening.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Bermuda.

Imelda was located about 395 miles (640 kilometers) west-southwest of Bermuda. It had maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 kph) and was moving east-northeast at 21 mph (33 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

“This is a dangerous storm system that could bring destructive winds, heavy rainfall and significant coastal impacts,” said Michael

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