A day of rain on Wednesday has pushed 2023 over the line to make it the wettest year since 1902.

While more than two weeks remain on the calendar, a total of 76.25in of rain were recorded by the Bermuda Weather Service as of yesterday morning, making this year the wettest since modern record-keeping began in 1949.

The figure tops the previous record of annual rainfall set in 1962, when 75.42in of rain was recorded.

The BWS said the figure falls short of the all-time record for the island, recorded more than a century ago.

“On fragmented records dating back to the 1850s, the wettest calendar year was recorded in 1902 as 89.24in of accumulation,” a spokesman said.

In addition to record breaking rainfall in both May and November, the island experienced near record rainfall in June and October.

October 13 has so far proven to be the wettest day of the year, and the fifth wettest day on record, with 5.51in of rainfall recorded in a 24-hour period.

The worst of the downpour occurred near high tide and in the midst of the morning rush hour, causing challenges for motorists who faced flooded roads in low-lying areas.

The unusually wet weather has caused headaches to event organisers throughout the year and has been blamed for the emergence of potholes across the island.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister of Public Works, said in June his ministry was moving to repair damage caused by sustained torrential downpours.

He said: “We are fully aware of the impact that the recent heavy rainfall has had on our roadways, resulting in the emergence of numerous potholes.

"The ministry is actively addressing this issue, and our dedicated teams are working diligently to repair and restore the affected areas, ensuring safer and smoother driving conditions for the public."