Bermuda told to 'prepare for the worst'

• Storm idling more than 400 miles from Bermuda, National Hurricane Center says
• Forecasters warn of life-threatening rip currents on U.S. beaches from Leslie
• Emergency officials in Bermuda say Leslie could be a "historic storm"

(CNN) -- Public schools will be closed Friday and government offices will also shut down early as Bermuda braces for the slowly approaching Hurricane Leslie.

Bermuda officials have told residents to "prepare for the worst" as the Category 1 storm is predicted to move close by the British territory Sunday.

"Leslie could be a historic storm for Bermuda as it is very large and forecast to intensify rapidly as it approaches," Bermuda's Emergency Measures Organization said in a statement earlier this week. "The island could experience hurricane force winds for a sustained period of time, possibly up to two days."

The hurricane seemed to stall Thursday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. The storm was about 415 miles south-southeast of Bermuda, and was stationary, the center said Friday morning

Forecasters expect that it will move more late in the day and could strengthen.

Early Friday the storm had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (121 kph), the hurricane center said.

Wayne Perinchief, Bermuda's national security minister, said officials are planning a "well-coordinated" response to any problems caused by the storm.

The storm is already dishing out heavy swells and dangerous currents in coastal areas of Bermuda, the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the U.S. East Coast from Florida to New York, the National Weather Service said.

Forecasters warned of potentially deadly rip currents that can pull even the strongest swimmers out to sea quickly. The agency warned beachgoers to stay out of the surf until the danger passes.

Another hurricane, Michael, formed late Wednesday in the eastern Atlantic. By Thursday, it had become the first major hurricane of the season as it strengthened to a Category 2, with winds of near 105 mph.

Michael is the seventh hurricane of the 2012 season, but posed no immediate threat to land and is expected to weaken in the coming days, the hurricane center said.

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