Hamilton – Residents breathed a huge sigh of relief when Hurricane Earl brushed past Bermuda early on Friday, causing no apparent serious damage or injury, although a few homes lost power.
The Bermuda Electric Light Company reported winds caused about 1 300 outages when the Category 2 hurricane, packing 100 miles an hour winds, approached the island from the south.
By 11 a.m. (local time) on Friday, power was restored to all but 172 homes, the majority in the densely populated central parish of Pembroke, the company said.
Less than half-inch of rain was recorded on Thursday by the Bermuda Weather Service, leaving the island still about eight inches down on normal rainfall for the year.
By noon on Friday, Earl was 255 miles to the island’s east-northeast travelling at 22 mph.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre said Earl, the second hurricane of the Atlantic season, is forecast to become a powerful post-tropical cyclone on Saturday.
National Security Minister Michael Weeks urged motorists to be cautious despite roads being given the “all clear” after Earl passed about 95 miles to the east-southeast during the early hours on Friday.
The Department of Public Transportation confirmed bus service resumed after being halted early on Thursday, while the Department of Marine and Ports Services said main ferry routes will start service later.
Earl was Bermuda’s second brush with a named storm this season, Tropical Storm Alex passed nearby in early June.
(CMC)