Bermuda faces threat from two potential hurricanes while the ominously named Tropical Storm Emily is brewing near Barbados.

Tropical Storm Cindy already has Bermuda in its sights and the Island faces a threat from Tropical Storm Dennis which strengthened yesterday from a tropical depression.

Both are forecast to turn into hurricanes by 3 a.m. tomorrow -- a situation the Bermuda Weather Service says may very well impact Bermuda. Although Dennis is heading toward the US, BWS's meteorologist Kimberley Stevenson said it could head back toward Bermuda within 72 hours.

And by Saturday Bermuda could be stuck between Dennis to the northwest and Cindy to the southeast.

Ms Stevenson said: "We are keeping an extremely close eye on these tropical systems. Cindy is a potential threat. We're advising people to stay tuned.'' Bermuda forecasters keep watch on three tropical storms "In 72 hours it may bring the system within 400 miles and Cindy is expected to speed up.

"Cindy is still forecast to come in our direction but Dennis is more unpredictable.

Last night Cindy was 1,504 nautical miles southeast of here and was locked on course for the Island, travelling at 15 knots.

Ms Stephenson said: "Cindy follows the edge of the Azores high which keeps it on line for Bermuda.'' The weather service's longest-range prediction places Cindy 476 nautical miles south-southeast of Bermuda on Friday at 3 p.m. However Ms Stephenson pointed out that Arlene, which barrelled through here in June, had been forecast to pass within two miles of the Island but the nearest it had come was around 90-nautical miles.

At 6 p.m. yesterday Dennis was 659-nautical miles southwest of Bermuda, near the Turks and Caicos Islands but was heading toward the Bahamas at around nine knots.

"Dennis is still in the formative stage. There are a lot of ingredients to a storm - the warm sea temperature and (weather) front to the north and the jet stream.

"As the system moves up to the States and encounters the jet stream, the western flow could steer this system and control its movements in future.

Tropical storm Emily developed out of a tropical wave yesterday afternoon.

Last night it was very small and static in the Barbados region but it was forecast to head toward the Lesser Antilles.

But James Buxton, of the weather service said: "Just because it's moving in a direction away doesn't mean it won't turn up here later. It's difficult to say how these things can go. Hurricane Mitch went through the Caribbean, the Yucatan Peninsula, the Gulf of Mexico, and Florida before heading for Bermuda.'' He added: "Most people will be glad to see the back of Emily if only for superstitious reasons.

The name has been notorious in Bermuda since Hurricane Emily caused so much damage in 1987 and it may be some time before it goes out of circulation.

Mr. Buxton explained: "Names are recycled every few years and are chosen to reflect the nationalities in the region so here there are American, European and Latin American names.

"But they are only dropped when they reach historic proportions.

"After Andrew caused record financial damage it was dropped from the list and replaced by another name beginning with `A'.

At 6 p.m. yesterday Tropical Storm Emily was 1,376 nautical miles south-southeast of Bermuda and was predicted to be 1,001 nautical miles south-southeast of Bermuda on Friday at 3 p.m.

STORM WATCH You can keep track of Cindy, Dennis and Emily by calling the watchers and warnings info line at 9773 or by logging on to Bermuda Weather Service's Internet site at www.weather.bm. The site has good maps and links to other weather sites.

No caption