A tropical storm warning is in effect for the approaching Jerry, with tropical storm force winds expected to start on Tuesday night.

The storm’s closest point of approach to Bermuda within 72 hours is expected to be within 29 miles of, or directly over, the island at 12pm on Wednesday.

The Bermuda Weather Service said on Monday night: “A Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect as Tropical Storm Jerry, a threat to Bermuda, is expected to bring tropical storm force winds with possible hurricane force gusts to Bermuda from Tuesday evening.

“Ahead of Jerry, expect southeasterly winds to increase, clouds to thicken and rain with embedded showers and isolated thunderstorms.

“Dangerous surf and rip tides continue through Wednesday.”

At midnight, the storm was 298 miles southwest of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 63mph and gusts to 75mph.

Jerry, which is projected to remain a tropical storm, was moving north at 7mph.

The BWS said to expect winds up to 46mph and gusts up to 75mph over Tuesday and Wednesday.

Meteorologists are watching the weather system closely and the Emergency Measures Organisation met yesterday morning to assess Tropical Storm Jerry’s threat to Bermuda.

The US-based National Hurricane Centre said in its midnight update: “Tropical storm force winds are expected on Bermuda by late Tuesday.

“Large swells are also expected to affect the coast of Bermuda during the next few days.

“These swells could cause life-threatening rip currents.”

A series of warnings are also in effect across the Caribbean for Karen, which formed in the Windward Islands and was downgraded to a tropical depression.

Karen is forecast to bring heavy rain, flash floods and mudslides to Puerto Rico, and the US and British Virgin Islands on Tuesday and a tropical storm warning remained in effect at midnight.

It is expected to continue in a generally northern direction, before veering sharply west to take it away from Bermuda on Thursday and Friday.

At 6pm its closest point of approach to Bermuda within 72 hours was expected to be 392 miles to the south at 6pm on Thursday, but it could move closer after that point.

Karen was at that time 1,134 miles south of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of almost 35mph and gusts to 46mph, and travelling north-northwest at 13mph.

Meteorologists are also watching the recently formed Tropical Storm Lorenzo, which was this morning south of the Cabo Verde islands.

The system is expected to become a hurricane by Wednesday as it drifts west-northwest.