Hurricane Nigel has powered up to Category 2 storm status and could intensify further before it starts weakening in coming days far out over the Atlantic Ocean, the US National Hurricane Center says.
Nigel's top sustained winds rose to 160km/h by late Tuesday, up from 145km/h earlier in the day when it was a strong Category 1 hurricane.
The system was centred about 950km east of Bermuda and moving to the north-northwest at 22km/h.
The island territory might see swells from Nigel that could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, forecasters said.
No coastal watches or warnings were in effect as the storm remained far from land.
The Miami-based hurricane centre said Nigel could strengthen some more early on Wednesday but is expected to begin weakening on Thursday and Friday and become a still strong post-tropical cyclone sometime on Friday.
