Tropical Storm Leslie hits Bermuda

Sun, September 09, 2012 - 1:30 PM

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Sept 9, CMC - Tropical Storm Leslie buffeted Bermuda with high winds and rain on Sunday, causing power outages and flooding in parts of the island but there were no immediate reports of major damage or personal injuries.

Bus and ferry services were cancelled and with the exception of a British Airways flight from London - scheduled to land in the afternoon, all international flights were cancelled.

As hurricane-force gusts hit the island, the Bermuda Electric Light Company reported five major power outages, knocking out power to 650 customers, before Leslie, packing sustained winds of 60 miles per hour, passed the island just before noon around 145 miles to the east.

The Bermuda Sun said small sections of the South Shore Road from Paget to Southampton were under water.

The newspaper said the centre of Hamilton was littered with downed branches.

"The city is quiet, with few taxis still operating. Some Front Street businesses have sandbagged their front doors to prevent flooding, but few are boarded up," the Sun said.

Leslie, the 12th named storm of the Atlantic season, was moving north at 10 mph and was on course to hit Newfoundland by mid-week.

Forecasters say it will become a hurricane again on Monday, having dropped below the 74 mph threshold while approaching Bermuda from the east-southeast.

The Bermuda Weather Service says hazardous surf and rip currents will continue into the Monday .