This NOAA satellite image taken Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012 at 10:45 AM EDT shows Tropical Storm Leslie moving Northward in the central Atlantic ocean and Hurricane Michael moving Northwest in the eastern Atlantic ocean. Leslie has maximum winds of 65 mph and is expected to bring tropical storm conditions to Bermuda by Sunday morning. Michael is currently a Category 2 Hurricane with maximum winds at 105 mph. This small yet strong storm is expected to slowly weaken over the next two days. (AP Photo/Weather Underground)
This NOAA satellite image taken Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012 at 10:45 AM EDT shows Tropical Storm Leslie moving Northward in the central Atlantic ocean and Hurricane Michael moving Northwest in the eastern Atlantic ocean. Leslie has maximum winds of 65 mph and is expected to bring tropical storm conditions to Bermuda by Sunday morning. Michael is currently a Category 2 Hurricane with maximum winds at 105 mph. This small yet strong storm is expected to slowly weaken over the next two days. (AP Photo/Weather Underground)
HAMILTON, Bermuda (AP) ? Tropical Storm Leslie churned northward early Sunday on a path expected to take it to the east of Bermuda, possibly as a weak hurricane.
With it seeming less likely for a near miss, the British territory's government pulled back on some of its storm preparations Saturday, but warned residents to keep alert in case of changes in Leslie.
The Bermuda Weather Service said forecasts pointed to the storm staying about 200 miles (320 kilometers) to the east Sunday as it headed toward the northern Atlantic.
"Bermuda seems to have escaped the worst of Tropical Storm Leslie," Wayne Perinchief, the national security minister, said Saturday.
But, he added, "I urge the public to remain cautious." He said strong winds and rain could occur.
The government did drop plans to close the airport, although major airlines already canceled flights. Officials also decided not to open an emergency shelter but said the facility was ready in case it was needed.
Bermuda, a financial haven and tourist destination about 600 miles (965 kilometers) off the U.S. East Coast, has strong building codes and its people are used to storms.
"I have taken precautions," said Gareth Kerr, 29. "The windows have the shutters across and I got supplies such as water and tinned food. If the weather is bad tomorrow I'll just sit indoors."
James Dodgson, a forecaster for the Bermuda Weather Service, cautioned that even with the storm likely to stay well offshore, there would be a chance of some flooding. He said a probable small storm surge of one or two feet could combine with high tide Sunday to cause minor flooding in low-lying areas.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said that late Saturday, the storm was maintaining top sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph), below the hurricane threshold of 74 mph (120 kph).
Leslie was about 200 miles (320 kilometers) southeast of Bermuda and was moving north at 8 mph (13 kph). The U.S. center said some strengthening was expected and Leslie could regain hurricane strength Sunday or Sunday night.
Far out in the Atlantic, Hurricane Michael remained a category 2 storm but slowed a bit to maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (160 kph) and was not considered any threat to land. For a few hours Thursday, it was the first Category 3 of the Atlantic hurricane season.
Michael was moving north-northwest at 6 mph (9 kph). It was about 920 miles (1,480 kilometers) west-southwest of the Azores.
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