Government officials were making hasty plans early this afternoon to close the Causeway, dismiss all public school students, and ready residents for increasingly worsening weather.

The main thoroughfare into the Island's East End closed at 1.30 p.m. and the situation was to be re-evaluated at 6 p.m. ? depending on the effects of gale force winds which are expected throughout the day.

The Bermuda Airport this morning said flights were arriving and leaving as scheduled.

The worst of the weather is expected to hit during the mid-afternoon, according to the Bermuda Weather Service.

Meteorologists report gusts in Dockyard were recorded at 75 knots around 1 p.m., which is above hurricane strength. The sustained winds in Dockyard are at 55 knots.

At the airport readings have come in at 38 knots sustained and gusts up to 52 knots.

By 1 p.m., most pupils had been let out early from school and some Hamilton businesses were allowing their employees to leave early as well.

The Bermuda Electric Light Company was making plans to dispatch repair crews to the St. George's area before the Causeway shutdown in order to provide assistance to east end customers should the roadway be damaged and power failed.

"This is part of our emergency procedure," said Belco spokesperson Linda Smith.

"Obviously, you only activate to the level that we need to."