Hamilton, Bermuda – Hurricane Florence blew out windows, peeled away several roofs and knocked out power to thousands in Bermuda on Monday but spared the wealthy British island chain massive damage as it skirted past.
Meanwhile Tropical Storm Gordon no longer appeared to be a threat to land. The storm was expected to remain over open water, the hurricane center said late Monday. Earlier forecasters feared Gordon was headed toward Bermuda.
At 9 p.m. MDT, Gordon had top sustained winds near 60 mph, up from 45 mph earlier in the day. It was about 430 miles northeast of the Leeward Islands and was moving northwest about 9 mph.
The Atlantic hurricane season began June 1 and ends Nov. 30. Authorities reported a few minor injuries but no deaths from Florence. Tourists remained sheltered inside resort hotels, and officials urged all islanders to stay at home until the second hurricane of the Atlantic season no longer posed a danger.
However, the cleanup was already beginning late Monday. The runway of Bermuda’s international airport was being cleared of debris and was expected to resume service today along with ferry and bus service. A causeway linking the main island with St. George’s parish was already reopened.
Crews with the territory’s electric company were also working to restore damaged power lines after Florence knocked out electricity to at least 23,000 homes and businesses during the day. About 5,000 of those customers had their power back by Monday evening, the utility said.
The government discontinued its tropical-storm warning late Monday.
Florence, a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 85 mph, was about 245 miles north of Bermuda at 9 p.m. MDT, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. It was traveling to the northeast at 18 mph and was not expected to threaten the U.S., forecasters said.
Florence was expected to weaken as wind shear increases and ocean temperatures cool, forecasters said.
Though no Bermudans were reported killed in the storm, officials at the Bermuda Zoo said two pink flamingos died after being struck by broken tree branches.
