A potential threat to the Island, Tropical Storm Maria which last night was some 850 miles south of Bermuda is expected to reach Category One hurricane strength as it turns to approach Bermuda from the southwest.Forecasters predicted Maria to be 275 miles from the Island by Wednesday evening.The hurricane threat has already forced the cruise ship Norwegian Gem to once again cancel its visit to the Island.Weather models showed Maria's course turning sharply north by early tomorrow, bringing rain with a chance of thunder on Wednesday and strong to gale-force southerly winds throughout Thursday when it may pass about 200 miles to our west.Maria is then expected to turn to a northeasterly course.Meanwhile, Ireland and the UK were last night bracing for high winds and heavy rain as the remnants of Hurricane Katia began to pummel the region.Follow these and other storm systems through The Royal Gazette'sStorm Watchfeature.