SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico(AP) — Hurricane Imelda barreled toward Bermuda on Wednesday as forecasters warned that it would swipe past the tiny British territory as a Category 2 storm.

Heavy winds and rain were expected to start hitting the island and continue through Thursday, with Imelda forecast to pass near or over Bermuda on Wednesday night.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Bermuda, a wealthy overseas territory with strong structures that have withstood powerful storms in previous years.

Imelda was located about 340 miles (550 kilometers) west-southwest of Bermuda. It had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 kph) and was moving east-northeast at 20 mph (31 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

“This is a dangerous storm system that could bring destruc

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