By ELIZABETH ROBERTS
Associated Press
Posted September 8 2006, 11:44 PM EDT

HAMILTON, Bermuda — HAMILTON, Bermuda–Tropical Storm Florence intensified Friday night as it continued moving through the open Atlantic on a path toward Bermuda.

Florence was expected to reach hurricane strength by the time it hits the tiny British territory Monday, according to forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami, though it was too early to tell whether it will make a direct hit.

“Even if the center misses Bermuda by a couple hundred miles, this is a very large storm so there’s likely to be some effect,” said Mark Willis, a meteorologist at the center. “If not the strong winds, there will definitely be some rough surf.”

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