HAMILTON (Reuters):

Bermuda's govern-ment told residents to prepare for powerful winds and high seas yesterday as Hurricane Florence headed toward the British Atlantic territory and looked poised to strengthen.

After gaining hurricane status early yesterday, the storm's maximum sustained winds were at 90mph (145kph), easily making it a Category One hurricane, the least powerful on the Saffir-Simpson scale, the United States National Hurricane Center said.

Forecasters predicted 'Florence' would intensify to Category Two as it passed Bermuda this morning. Category Two hurricanes have top sustained winds of at least 96mph (154kph) and are capable of moderate damage.

Bermuda Weather Service director Mark Guishard said winds of around 100mph (160kph) were expected early today. Tropical storm force winds extended up to 260 miles (420km) and were already affecting the island, the hurricane centre said.

Second hurricane

Florence, the second hurricane of the 2006 Atlantic season, was 185 miles (300km) south-south-west of Bermuda at 5:00 p.m. (2100 GMT) and moving toward the north at 13 mph (20kph), according to the hurricane centre.

Florence's approach prompted Bermuda's government to issue a hurricane warning, telling the 22-mile-long island's 63,000 residents they should rush to complete preparations.

Bermuda could experience six- to eight-foot storm surges and battering waves as Florence passes, as well as five to eight inches of rain, forecasters said. Its South Shore beaches were already taking a severe pounding.

Government leaders called up 200 troops of the Bermuda Regiment and placed 250 more on standby for possible deployment after the storm. A shelter opened at midday, although most Bermudans were expected to weather Florence at home.