Hurricane Igor will come within ten miles of Bermuda bringing winds of up to 125 mph, forecasters said this afternoon.

In its 6pm update, the Bermuda Weather Service said Igor's closest point would be at midnight on Sunday when it would be ten nautical miles to the east southeast of the Island.

The BWS said maximum winds would be between 90 knots and 110 knots (100mph to 125 mph) lower that the 105 knots to 130 knots (about 120 mph to 150 mph) forecast earlier today. The storm is moving at just nine knots.

A hurricane watch was this afternoon issued for the Island.

Last night Ken Smith, a meteorologist for the Bermuda Weather Service, said Bermuda should prepare for a virtually direct hit, adding the Island could see 37 hours of gale force winds starting Sunday.

And AccuWeather hurricane expert Joe Bastardi said Bermuda should be prepared for a “several-day siege of damaging winds and waves”.

At 9 p.m. last night Mr. Smith said: "The current forecast closest point of approach is 11 p.m. Sunday with the storm approximately 15 nautical miles to our southeast.”

The Island proper can expect about 37 hours of tropical storm force winds, about 21 hours of storm force winds, and about 11 hours of hurricane force winds.

"At this time it appears that Igor will be a strong Category 2 or possibly a Category 3 storm as it passes Bermuda, and our current forecast is for winds reaching 75-90 knots [85 miles per hour to 104 miles per hour] with gusts 110 knots [126 miles per hour] this could be revised upward as we move forward.

"Hurricane Igor is very similar to Hurricane Fabian. Fabian was a Category 3 storm as it crossed Bermuda and the track was also very similar to Igor.”

Last night Igor was approximately 435 miles wide.

Yesterday, Government continued to urge people to prepare for a storm they described as the most serious since Hurricane Fabian in 2003.

That hurricane left four people dead and millions of dollars worth of damage.

Today the Emergency Measures Organisation is due to meet at 10.30 a.m. followed by a press conference to share the latest official information with the public.

Meyer Shipping spokesman Joe Simas said that based on the most recent weather update: “The port of Bermuda will be closed as of midnight on Friday and will reopen sometime Monday afternoon. No marine traffic will be let in.”

A government spokeswoman added ”Currently, the Department of Marine and Ports, in accordance with hurricane preparedness plans, continues discussions with local shipping agents to discuss alternate ports in advance of deteriorating weather conditions associated with Hurricane Igor.”

She said there has been no official closure of the Island’s marine ports when it comes to cruise ships.The Norwegian Spirit, Enchantment of the Seas and MSC Poesia cruise ships have cancelled their weekend trips.

The Veendam is on schedule to leave at lunchtime today, but at press time last night it was still scheduled to return on Tuesday.

Mr. Simas said they may change if Bermuda’s infrastructure is damaged by the intense storm.

Meanwhile the L.F. Wade International Airport remains open and operational. Schools across Bermuda had yet to decide if classes would happen on Monday as of press time last night.

A Department of Education spokeswoman said the decisions would be made at 6 a.m. on Monday.

The City of Hamilton will turn its traffic lights off Saturday evening and Dockyard’s Clock Tower Mall will be closed throughout the weekend.

And hotels are reporting mixed results.

The Hamilton Princess is nearly full while Elbow Beach Hotel has had two groups cancel because of the storm, leaving just 14 rooms booked out for the weekend. Cambridge Beaches had 55 percent occupancy for the weekend before Igor, now they are projecting less than 45 percent due to cancellations.

As Igor drew closer residents were busy stocking up yesterday. Gas stations across the Island saw large amounts of business. A decision will not be made until later today as to when Esso service stations will be closed for the storm, according to Esso Bermuda general manager Mark Fields.

”Right now we’re getting as much product across the causeway before it closes,” Mr. Fields said. “We’re working full time keeping our stations at full capacity.” Systems checks and final preparations to secure the terminal facility in St. George’s were underway yesterday.

”It’s good to see people getting started early,” Mr. Fields said, “because in Fabian people started quite late.” He added that gasoline must be placed only in safe containers, and treated with great caution.

An employee at the Bermuda Industrial Union station on Dundonald Street said: “A lot of people have been coming in with containers, and that’s unusual. And I’ve seen people driving up with generators in their cars.”

Bermuda Democratic Alliance leader Craig Cannonier, who holds franchises for three Esso stations, said storm shutters were going up at the Collector’s Hill outlet. “I couldn’t believe how many people were lined up there,” he said. “People are taking precautions, which is good to see.”

Mr. Cannonier spoke to The Royal Gazette while getting supplies at Masters Limited. He said: “It’s very, very active here <> lines are 15 people deep. The atmosphere is nice, everyone’s happy, and it shows how Bermudians can be together.” He echoed the view that locals have learned lessons since Fabian and have planned early.

Flashlights, batteries and tarpaulins appeared to be the most popular hardware items, and plywood for covering windows and doors has also moved rapidly out of shops.

Bill Morrison, CEO of SAL Limited, said both divisions were stocking a complete list of hurricane supplies and had seen steady business for the last couple of days. “Everyone’s realised that they need supplies,” he said.

At the schools, a Warwick Academy employee summed it up as: “Buckle everything down.”

Saltus deputy headmaster Malcolm Durrant said the school was waiting to make a final decision whether to open on Monday. “The decision will be made soon,” he said, “or it might be out of our hands. The causeway could still be closed. We tend to follow the government schools.”

International Baccalaureate students at Warwick Academy have volunteered to help residents in the area stow away their outdoor furniture and secure their homes today after one p.m.

Residents of Warwick who would like help should contact Jane Vickers at jvickers@warwickacad.bm or 239-9465 before noon today.

And Digicel Bermuda has a private plane packed with emergency supplies, vital telecommunications equipment and expert riggers landing on the Island today.

It will remain available to Digicel Bermuda in the event that more human and capital resources are required from overseas. Wayne Caines, CEO, Digicel Bermuda said: “It’s all about ensuring our customers can stay connected to family and friends. We take that responsibility very seriously.

”As such, we have generators installed in the vast majority of our cell sites across the island and ample fuel supplies to meet our requirements.”