Newly formed tropical storm Leslie may sweep past Bermuda early tomorrow morning, bringing gale force winds and rain.

The storm made news earlier this week after flooding large portions of south Florida, and is blamed for killing two people.

Leslie, the twelfth named storm of the Atlantic Hurricane season is not expected to reach hurricane strength but is expected to pass by Bermuda tomorrow morning between 2 and 3 a.m. with a few hours of stronger winds around daybreak.

A Bermuda Weather Service spokesman said: "We are expecting tropical storm force winds to hit,'' but they did not issue a tropical storm warning as the tropical force winds were not expected to buffet the Island within the 36-hour window in which warnings are issued.

The spokesman expected there would be blustery winds, some increased sea swells and rain associated with the system, although it was hard to know exactly how much each would affect the Island.

At 6 p.m. yesterday, the storm was located 562 nautical miles west of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds at 35 knots, gusting to 45 knots.

It is moving east at 10 knots and expected to pass 83 nautical miles to the northwest, with its closest point of approach tomorrow morning.

The system drenched South Florida earlier this week with over 18 inches of rain, flooding thousands of homes in the Miami area.

The storm is also causing local shippers to vary their schedules. A spokesman for Meyer Agency said The Crown Dynasty , set to arrive today will berth in Hamilton rather than Dockyard, but is due to move to Dockyard on Sunday.

The inaugural cruise of the Silver Sea Line's Silver Shadow will be cut short due to the storm. It will arrive at 8 a.m. this morning, and leave at 5 p.m.

in the afternoon, instead of its scheduled departure of tomorrow morning.

The ship was sailing in from the Azores and stops in Bermuda before departing for New York.

A second ship also on its inaugural cruise, the Regal Empress is expected to arrive on schedule tomorrow and not be affected by the storm.

The storm is causing postponements elsewhere on the Island. The Bermuda Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) regrets to inform the public that due to the potential threat of inclement weather tomorrow, their planned Animal Expo has been postponed until the following Saturday, October 14.

For more information, contact the SPCA Valley Road Shelter at 236-7333.