The core of Hurricane Imelda was moving past Bermuda early Thursday as weather conditions were expected to improve around the tiny British territory that reported major power outages and downed trees, but no injuries. A tropical storm warning remained in effect after the weather system swiped the island and then lost strength.
National Security Minister Michael Weeks said crews were just starting to fan out across the island to assess damage, but Premier David Burt said, “There has been no significant damage and, most importantly, no reported casualties.”
The storm weakened to Category 1 strength and was expected to drop between 5 and 10 cm of rain and produce a dangerous storm surge that could cause coastal flooding. More than 17,000 customers were without power Thursday, with officials reporting downed power lines and transformers.
Bermuda had closed schools, offices and the airport Wednesday as it deployed 100 soldiers to secure infrastructure, clear roads and help at emergency shelters. Schools and government offices remained closed on Thursday.
Caribbean and U.K.
Earlier in the week, Imelda battered the northern Caribbean. It unleashed widespread flooding in eastern Cuba, where two people died, and in Haiti, where one person was missing and two others were injured.
Hurricane Humberto, which had been racing ahead of Imelda, dissipated Wednesday after passing west of Bermuda on Tuesday. Its remnants were named Storm Amy by U.K. forecasters, who warned it would affect much of Ireland and the U.K. starting Friday.
Both weather systems were generating dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents affecting beaches along the north Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda and much of the U.S. East Coast.
While the Atlantic hurricane season is winding down, forecasters urged people to remain alert.
“We expect atmospheric conditions that could support tropical storms and hurricanes well into late October and November this year,” said Alex DaSilva, lead hurricane expert at AccuWeather.
Imelda was the fourth hurricane of this year’s Atlantic season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.
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