Hurricane Eases, Skirts Bermuda; New Storm Forms

Hurricane Claudette weakened Sunday and passed wide of Bermuda.

Meanwhile, the season’s fourth tropical storm, Danny, began brewing in the area of the eastern Atlantic that generates the strongest hurricanes.

Hurricane Claudette headed over cooler water, so forecasters expected a slow weakening. It was not expected to threaten the mainland United States, but in Bermuda small boats were advised to stay in port and residents were cautioned to stay indoors.

Tourists were warned to stay off the beaches, where seas reached eight feet.

The hurricane, whose maximum sustained winds dropped to 105 m.p.h., had been heading north-northwest but curved northward Sunday morning, the National Hurricane Center in Coral Gables, Fla., said.

At 9 p.m. EDT, the eye of the hurricane was passing about 100 miles east of Bermuda, moving at 12 m.p.h. Showers and gusty winds were reported on the island.

A hurricane watch had been upgraded to a warning Sunday, but the warning was canceled after the hurricane continued weakening and moved farther away.

At 6 p.m., Tropical Storm Danny was centered about 930 miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands near Africa, heading west at 17 m.p.h. with maximum winds near 45 m.p.h.