Life-threatening surf could hit the eastern-facing beaches of the Bahamas as Hurricane Rafael takes hold.

Tropical Storm Rafael gained hurricane strength in the central Atlantic yesterday.

The storm, with powerful 75mph winds, was centred about 570 miles south of Bermuda early yesterday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

It was moving north at 10mph, forecasters said.

The hurricane centre said it expected Rafael would stay well to the east of the Bahamas last night, but it warned of life-threatening surf conditions and rip currents on our eastward-facing beaches over the next few days.

The Bahamas Meteorology Department said yesterday: “Swells generated by Rafael are expected to affect the Bahamas over the next few days with dangerous surf and the high risk of rip currents mainly along the Eastern / Atlantic shores of the islands.”

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