Hurricane Gains Strength as It Nears Bahamas

Hurricane Dennis strengthened as it crept up on the Bahamas on Thursday, sending residents scurrying to grocery stores to stock up on supplies.

By this morning, Dennis was expected to be within 40 miles of the Bahamas’ Eleuthera Island, a 110-mile-long strip of pink sand with 8,000 residents.

In the Bahamian capital, Nassau, boats were hauled out of the harbor and the governor general’s official residence was boarded up.

Forecasters expected a weather system moving east across the United States to force Dennis away from Florida. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Dennis might never hit land. But it also could turn and strike near South Carolina as early as Sunday, when it could be packing winds over 100 mph, forecaster Robert Molleda said.

“We’re not letting anyone off the hook anywhere along the coast,” said another meteorologist at the center, Todd Kimberlain.

Two other nearby storms posed little threat Thursday, forecasters said. Cindy, upgraded to a hurricane again late Wednesday, was far out in the Atlantic. And Emily--which sprang up at near-hurricane strength Tuesday--began to lose strength.