East Coast swimmers, boaters warned

Rain ahead of Hurricane Bill is pelting Bermuda today as the storm roars over the open Atlantic, threatening to flood the island’s coastline in passing and to spread dangerous waves and riptides along the eastern U.S. shore, the Associated Press reports.

The Category 3 storm’s maximum sustained winds lost a little strength overnight to near 115 mph, from 125 mph late Thursday. Forecasters say the hurricane’s center will pass between Bermuda and the U.S. shore Saturday.

On the eastern U.S. coast, offshore waves of 20 feet and more and rip currents at the beach are expected over one of the summer’s last weekends. Boaters and swimmers from northeastern Florida to New England should beware of incoming swells as Bill passes far out to sea on a northward track for Canada’s Maritime provinces. And flooding is expected along North Carolina's shore.