Heavy wind and rain began battering Bermuda late Wednesday as the British territory braced itself for Hurricane Nicole, which became a major Category 4 storm as it tracked toward the tiny island in the northern Atlantic Ocean.

    The US National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm is expected to pass near or over Bermuda on Thursday.

    Nicole was located about 180 miles (290 kilometers) south-southwest of Bermuda late Wednesday night. It had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph) and was moving north-northeast at 12 mph (17 kph).

    The Hurricane Center urged islanders to rush hurricane preparations to completion.

Source: QNA