Bermuda is set to experience more settled weather today after gusts up to 56 knots battered the Island last night.

A low pressure to the northwest of Bermuda, which first began to hit on Thursday, peaked at about 7 p.m. yesterday and began to subside about two hours later.

Bermuda Weather Service meteorologist Declan O'Connell said the weather front came off the US Atlantic seaboard - where it has wreaked havoc and destruction in the last few days through the deep south. The system passed very close to the Island, bringing rain and the threat of a thunderstorms.

He said by the early hours of today, it should have begun to move off, bringing slightly cooler temperatures and diminishing winds.

Mr. O'Connell said a storm and gale warning was issued last night.

He said: "We have had sustained winds of 35 knots (last night), with the worst gusts up to 56 knots. That is pretty much tropical storm winds. A gale warning is normally issued with sustained winds at 34 knots, or above.

"Over the sea we were probably getting winds ten to 15 knots higher than that. At North Rock we recorded gusts up to 61 knots at the peak.

"There could be a thunder storm. We put an advisory out, and there has also been lots of turbulence reported.

"By about 10 p.m., the worst of it will be gone, and hopefully Saturday morning will be much calmer."

Duty officer at Bermuda International Airport, Bill Nearon, said there had been no disruption at the airport yesterday as the winds, although gusting, were running in the direction of the runway, as opposed to across it.

He said no flights had been affected by the weather. However on Thursday night, the American Airlines flight from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York to Bermuda was delayed due to high winds.

The flight, which normally arrives soon after 10 p.m. and then leaves Bermuda to return to New York at 7.25 a.m. the next morning, arrived with its 176 passengers shortly before noon yesterday.