Several Caribbean islands began to brace themselves for Tropical Storm Dorian — but the system is not considered a threat to Bermuda.

Yesterday afternoon, Dorian was 1,585 miles south-southeast of Bermuda and travelling west with maximum sustained winds of 45 knots (52mph).

The system — the first major storm of the season — is expected to pass over Barbados and St Lucia tonight and tomorrow morning at it picks up strength.

TS Dorian could reach hurricane strength on Wednesday, but forecasts suggest the storm will weaken again on Thursday before it can make landfall in the Dominican Republic on Hispaniola.

The US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a bulletin yesterday morning saying that a tropical storm warning had been issued for Barbados.

A tropical storm watch was in effect for St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and the wider Lesser Antilles.

It added: “It is too soon to determine the specific timing or magnitude of impacts in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands or Hispaniola, but interests in those areas should monitor the progress of Dorian.”