Hurricane Katia is expected to turn closer to the Island over the next few days, but it is still uncertain if the growing storm will reach Bermuda.Early forecasts suggest that the storm will make a turn to the northwest, bringing its path closer to Bermuda as it builds to a Category 3 storm.Katia is now forecast to be around 1,300nm to the Island’s south-southwest by Tuesday morning.Bermuda Weather Service meteorologist Robert Giglio said today: “A few different computer models have Katia taking a turn to the North and moving very close to the West of Bermuda by late next week.“Several other computer models suggest Katia will stay on a westerly track and approach the Bahamas by the later half of next week.”He said one of the elements that could help protect the Island is the Bermuda-Azores High, while another potential tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico could potentially alter the strength and track of Katia.“At the same time, another strong area of low pressure is forecast to move off the coast of Nova Scotia, dragging a cold front with it, which may brush past to the northwest of Bermuda,” he said.“The combination of these features may result in a ‘squeezing’ of the ridge of the Bermuda-Azores High between all these systems. If this happens, then it could set up a blocking pattern that could either delay, stall, or nudge Katia to continue a western track.”Mr Giglio said that the service is advising the public to keep an eye on Katia over the long weekend.“One effect that Katia will likely have on the region is an increase in southeasterly swells and rising seas by the latter half of the weekend.“The current forecast is calling for seas to rise toward 8ft, especially on the South Shore, by Sunday.”Useful website: www.weather.bm.