MIAMI , Florida ( CNN ) -- Hurricane Bertha -- the first hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic season -- increased in strength Monday evening , according to the National Hurricane Center . A satellite picture from 5:45 a.m . ET Monday shows Hurricane Bertha over the Atlantic . While Bertha 's power may fluctuate over the next day , it is expected to begin gradually weakening by Wednesday , the center 's 11 p.m . ET advisory said . Bertha 's became a major -- or Category 3 -- hurricane Monday afternoon . A Category 3 has wind speeds of 111 to 130 mph . As of 11 p.m . ET , Bertha was 695 miles ( 1,115 km ) east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands and about 1,085 miles ( 1,745 km ) southeast of Bermuda . The eye was moving toward the west-northwest at about 12 mph . Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 120 mph ( 195 km/hr ) , up from the 115 mph mentioned in a 5 p.m. advisory . The hurricane is expected to turn to the northwest and decrease its forward speed in the next 24 to 48 hours , the center said . There is a very small chance Bertha will make landfall in the United States . Bermuda could be affected by the hurricane this weekend . See Bertha 's projected path » . `` It is still way too soon to determine whether or not Bertha will affect Bermuda , '' the center said . The storm formed Thursday in the far eastern Atlantic , off the coast of Africa , near the southern Cape Verde Islands . It strengthened into a hurricane early Monday . Learn more about hurricanes » . The first tropical storm of the season , Arthur , formed May 31 near the coast of Belize and dumped heavy rain on Central America and southern Mexico .
NEW : This means the product will ship as received by the manufacturer, sealed, with all advertised components, and with the manufacturer warranty. Bermuda could be affected by the hurricane this weekend . Likelihood of storm making landfall in U.S. is very small . Bertha is the first hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season .