The Island is set to be battered by gale force winds and rain during the next couple of days as the snow storms hitting the US East Coast track over Bermuda.

Travel to the New York and Boston areas could be hampered for people planning to leave the Island, as some flights are cancelled and others delayed.

As of yesterday afternoon, New York had reported more than a foot of snow on the ground, and freezing rain, snow and near gale-force winds had brought the main airports to a near standstill.

Although Bermuda will be spared such cold, snowy conditions, it will still feel the affects of the storm both today and tomorrow as it travels east across the Atlantic.

Bermuda Weather Service meteorologist Mark Guishard said we could expect winds to increase to gale force out of the west and southwest by this morning.

And he said widespread rain was forecast from last night, as the cold front associated with this system pushed through Bermuda.

He added: "Behind that cold front, very cool daytime temperatures of low to mid 60s Fahrenheit are going to affect the Island, with on and off showery weather through most of the work week.

"Wednesday should be particularly blustery, with strong gales, seas up to 30 feet outside the reef, and heavy showers, accompanied by the chance of hail and thunder.'' However, he said there was light at the end of the tunnel, as we can expect high pressure to build just in time for the weekend, which will settle the conditions.

The storms have forced a number of airlines to cancel flights today to and from the Island.

American Airlines cancelled its flight to New York's John F Kennedy Airport yesterday morning and the return flight last night.

The jet is still at the Airport and is scheduled to fly this morning to New York as normal.

American's Country manager Carol DeCouto said last night: "I'm hearing its going to get worse and we might possibly cancel tomorrow morning's (Tuesday's) flight. If that happens, we'll go out on Wednesday morning.'' Delta Airlines cancelled the 5 p.m. from Bermuda to Boston last night and the same flight tonight. The airline also cancelled the 9 a.m. flight today from Boston to the Island.

The Delta Bermuda to Atlanta flight leaving the Island at 1.50 p.m. will be operating as normal. Delta is also operating as normal from Atlanta, arriving in Bermuda at 4 p.m.

The US Airways flights from Baltimore and Philadelphia are scheduled to arrive and depart today as scheduled.

The Continental Flight from Newark to Bermuda arriving at 3.05 p.m. today is planned to fly as normal.

The Royal Gazette called major hotels on the Island yesterday, but none reported being affected by the flight cancellations.

People are advised to call their airlines to confirm whether their flights will be arriving or leaving on time.

For more on the bad weather in the US, see Page 7