The centre of Hurricane Chris will pass northwest of the island this morning.

The Bermuda Weather Service said the category 2 storm was “unlikely to have significant impact on the island, with moderate to strong winds and swells of up to nine feet expected as it passes”.

Chris “finally” became a hurricane as it moved away from the US late yesterday afternoon, the country’s National Hurricane Centre said.

The huricane, which is deemed a “potential threat” to Bermuda, is forecast to come within 345 miles to the northwest of the island at 10am, its closest point within the next 72 hours.

Yesterday evening, the BWS said winds on the surface would reach around 17 to 23mph as Chris “passes to the distant west on Wednesday morning”.

It continued: “Models have winds decreasing in the afternoon; however, swells from Chris are expected to be near nine feet Wednesday evening into early Thursday morning.

“Chris is trailing plenty of moisture, which will arrive in the area Wednesday evening and remain through Thursday morning, along with a chance of thunder.

Showers may linger into Thursday afternoon and then models rapidly decrease precipitation Thursday night.”

According to the BWS, a small craft warning issued for today was likely to be extended through to tomorrow.

However, it said that period may be “adjusted slightly” as some forecasts suggested the amount of time it was needed may be reduced.

It added: “There is a chance that a thunderstorm advisory will be needed for late Wednesday evening through Thursday morning.”

At 6am, Chris was 357 miles west-northwest of Bermuda, with winds of about 105mph and higher gusts.

The US National Hurricane Centre said Chris had picked up speed and was headed towards the northeast at about 22mph.

Chris is the second hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.

The hurricane centre added: “Chris has the opportunity to strengthen a little today or tonight.

“After that time, the hurricane is forecast to weaken and become a strong post-tropical cyclone by Thursday night or earlier.”