Hurricane Leslie edges closer to Bermuda

Leslie churned the Atlantic waters early Thursday as the minimal hurricane maintained its slow northward pace. The storm was about 440 miles south southeast of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, the National Hurricane Center reported at 5 a.m. Leslie was virtually motionless, moving north at 1 mph. While Leslie was not considered a threat to land, it is a large cyclone with tropical-storm force winds extending out up to 195 miles. Forecasters cautioned residents of Bermuda to watch the progress of the storm. Swells generated by the storm will continue to affect Bermuda, the center said. High surf also could impact the east coast of the United States from central Florida northward. In the Caribbean, the NHC said the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin islands could experience "life threatening surf and rip current" for the next several days.