Tropical Storm Kyle swirls toward Bermuda, US

MIAMI (AFP) — Tropical Storm Kyle is churning on a path that would take it west of Bermuda and could become a hurricane before it takes aim at the US coast, the National Hurricane Center said on Friday.

"A tropical storm watch is in effect for Bermuda," the Miami-based center said in a bulletin at 1200 GMT.

"Interests in the northeastern United States and the Canadian maritime region should closely monitor the progress of Kyle during the next couple of days," it added.

Packing sustained winds of 60 miles per hour (95 kilometres per hour), "additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Kyle could become a hurricane by Saturday," the NHC warned.

At 1200 GMT, Kyle's center was about 500 miles southsouthwest of Bermuda. On its current track "the center of Kyle and the strongest winds are forecast to remain west of Bermuda," the center added.