A deadly winter storm that has ravaged the United States is also taking its toll on the Bermuda Rendezvous Tournament that officially gets under way today at Warwick Lanes.

The storm has forced flight cancellations that have left overseas participants from the US East Coast stranded and unable to make their way to Bermuda.

“The storm is definitely having an effect on the overseas players,” Marjorie Correia, the tournament director, said. “We have had communication from one group that they cannot get out and we have another large group of 21 people coming but we have not heard from them so we do not know what is going on with them.”

Tournament organisers are expecting between up to 50 overseas bowlers from North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Baltimore and Philadelphia.

The handicap tournament will run until Monday and is only open to male and female bowlers sanctioned by the United States Bowling Congress.

Dean Lightbourne, of Bermuda, captured top honours in the men’s event last year, while women’s honours went to Michelle Layton-Brown, of the US.

In the event that a number of overseas competitors fail to reach Bermuda, it is expected that local entries will more than make up the shortfall.