Hurricane Rafael moves east of Bermuda

MIAMI, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Hurricane Rafael began moving away from Bermuda Tuesday night, with no coastal watches or warnings in effect, forecasters said.

Rafael, a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, was about 135 miles east of Bermuda, moving north-northeast at 29 mph, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its 11 p.m. EDT advisory.

Rafael was forecast to turn toward the northeast with an increase in forward speed over the next 24-48 hours. Forecasters said the hurricane was expected to begin weakening by Wednesday morning.

Hurricane-force winds extended 35 miles from the center, and tropical storm-force winds extended outward up to 205 miles.

Swells generated by Rafael are expected to affect Bermuda, the eastern-facing beaches of the Bahamas and parts of the U.S. East Coast for the next couple of days, the hurricane center said. The swells likely will cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.