Hurricane Maria has been downgraded to a tropical storm but last night remained a potential threat to the island, the Bermuda Weather Service said.

The BWS 6pm update said the storm was expected to make its closest point of approach in the next 72 hours at around midnight on Thursday night, as it passes 296 nautical miles to the island’s north-northwest — but the storm could veer closer after that period.

A storm is considered a potential threat to a location if it is expected to pass within 400 nautical miles within 72 hours.

Maria was 425 nautical miles west-north-west of the island at 6pm, and moving north at 7mph.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Lee, which reached Category 2 strength last night, is also considered a potential threat to the island.

The storm was 380 nautical miles east of Bermuda at 6pm, moving west at 8mph.

While the storm is expected to continue travelling westward in the coming days, it is expected to turn to the northeast in the coming days, making its closest point at 3am on Thursday, when it is predicted to pass 380 nautical miles to the island’s east.