Leslie spinning wheels in Atlantic

Bermuda prepared for what officials said could be a "historic storm" Friday as Tropical Storm Leslie churned in the Atlantic, taking aim at the island. Leslie, sporting maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, was 375 miles south-southeast of Bermuda, moving north at 5 mph, the National Hurricane Center in Miami reported said in its 5 p.m. EDT advisory. A tropical storm watch was in effect for Bermuda and forecasters said the storm could regain hurricane strength during the weekend. Tropical storm winds extended out 185 miles from the storm's center. Public schools in Bermuda were closed Friday and government buildings were to close early, with Leslie predicted to reach the British territory Sunday, CNN reported. "Leslie could be a historic storm for Bermuda as it is very large and forecast to intensify rapidly as it approaches," Bermuda's Emergency Measures Organization said in a statement this week. "The island could experience hurricane-force winds for a sustained period of time, possibly up to two days." Officials in Newfoundland were preparing for the possibility Leslie could hit Wednesday, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. said. Hurricane Igor caused extensive flooding and knocked out power for days in September 2010. Forecasters said Leslie's predicted track could change in the next five days, with the storm remaining out to sea and bypassing Newfoundland, but NHC forecasters said residents should not bet on that.