A high-pressure mass parked over the island and promoting “sunny, dry, settled conditions” will remain in effect for “the next several days”, according to the Bermuda Weather Service.

Residents got a tantalising hint of rain on Wednesday evening — but the high pressure largely responsible for the driest July since 1984 is “nudging back” into force, the BWS said.

The weekend forecast holds potential for passing showers — but sustained wetter weather tends to come with the lessening of the Bermuda-Azores High’s grip on the region.

The high-pressure system builds in strength for the summer and usually shifts towards the island, becoming the Bermuda High.

While the body of high pressure encourages drier conditions, it “also discourages tropical cyclones from heading into our area, as they tend to move around the high”, according to Michelle Pitcher, acting director of the BWS.

Plumes of dust from the Sahara desert drifting across the Atlantic, accompanied by wind shear, have helped to stifle hurricane development so far this season.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30.

Mrs Pitcher said: “Our peak tropical season of September and October coincides with the annual weakening of the Bermuda-Azores High, which allows the path of cyclones to recurve and move through our general area.

“Models continue to maintain high pressure over the area for the next several days.”

The BWS’s latest climatology summary gives “an equal likelihood of above, below or near normal accumulation” for rain over August through October.

But warmer-than-usual sea-surface temperatures are likely around Bermuda for the rest of the summer, with “moderate-to-strong likelihood of being above normal“, the BWS said.