Bermuda was put on hurricane watch last night as Hurricane Michelle continued her course northward after wreaking havoc in Cuba and parts of the Caribbean.

The Bermuda Weather Service warned residents to prepare for the worst as Michelle, yesterday packing 135mph winds, was on course to directly hit the Island by 4 p.m. tomorrow.

Michelle was last night expected to finally cross Cuba, where she led to thousands of people fleeing their homes, trees being uprooted, and homes and resorts suffering damage.

She was then on track to emerge over the Florida Straits and continue northeast, increasing in momentum as she went.

But meteorologist James Morrison said the hurricane was expected to weaken from its category four status last night as it moved away from Cuba and into the Atlantic.

And by the time she hits Bermuda tomorrow, she is expected to have decreased to almost a category one hurricane, bringing winds up to 75 knots. Although, it could change en-route.

Mr. Morrison said: "The National Hurricane Centre has been consistent in its forecast direction with Michelle and expects Michelle to continue on its forecast track, moving to the northeast quite rapidly, once it moves out into the open water.

"Michelle is expected to move within 50 nautical miles to the north of Bermuda on Tuesday with winds close to hurricane force.

"The Island should begin to experience strong to gale force winds early Tuesday morning, which will continue to increase into tropical storm force and almost hurricane force through the day.

"The public would be well advised to prepare for a hurricane, like they normally would, by obtaining the necessary supplies and securing their properties.

"Homes, trees, boats, vehicles, garden furniture and the like should be secured. Pets should be brought inside, and the usual supplies, such as water, candles, batteries and flash lights, obtained. "We don't want people to be caught out."

There is a chance that Hurricane Michelle could move off course and go wide of Bermuda, or equally, it could lose or gain speed arriving at a different time, so residents are urged to monitor its progress.

About 12 people died at the hands of Michelle on Friday as she battered Honduras and Nicaragua in Central America, and Jamaica and Cuba in the Caribbean Sea, bringing with her more than ten inches of rain, leading to mudslides.

She slammed into Cuba's coast yesterday causing half a million people to be evacuated from low-lying areas.