People on the tiny British territory of Bermuda are preparing for Hurricane Gonzalo, which is roaring toward them as a major Category 4 storm.

It has top sustained winds of 145 miles an hour, after increasing slightly in strength today.

The storm is no threat to the U.S.

Gonzalo reached Category 4 strength early Thursday for the second time in two days while fluctuating in intensity.

The center of the storm is expected to be near Bermuda tomorrow afternoon and evening. Tropical storm conditions are expected by late today.

Dangerous and life-threatening storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding in Bermuda. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

Gonzalo is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 6 inches over Bermuda.

Large swells generated by Gonzalo are affecting portions of the Virgin Islands, the northern coasts of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, portions of the Bahamas and the east coast of the United States from North Carolina southward. 

Swells will reach the rest of the East Coast of the United States and Bermuda through Friday. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Slow weakening is forecast tonight and Friday, but Gonzalo is expected to be a dangerous hurricane when it moves near Bermuda. Steady weakening should begin by late Friday.

A spokesman for the Bermuda government says a high school has been opened as a shelter, but that he believes most people will stay home.

Bermuda, some 850 miles east of South Carolina, has one of the highest per-capita incomes in the world and its strict building codes make structures particularly capable of withstanding storms.

The last major hurricane to strike Bermuda was Fabian in 2003. It was a Category 3 storm that killed four people.

Informaiton from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Follow Gonzalo with our new, interactive radar. The radar puts the power of Klystron 9 at your fingertips like never before! Zoom down to your neighborhood, search by ZIP code and save your location. Choose from 14 different options, from radar to hurricane tracks to satellite data — LIVE RADAR.