Torrential rain and 70 mph winds battered Bermuda yesterday as Tropical Storm Bertha — still poised to become a hurricane last night — passed over the Island.

Trees collapsed onto cars, thousands of homes suffered power outages and all flights were cancelled as Islanders hurried home to batten down the hatches against hurricane-strength gusts.

Some were unable to get back to their families when the Causeway was closed at short notice just before 5 p.m. It reopened just after 8 p.m.

Buses and cars heading to St. George's were unable to cross the bridge and frustrated motorists and passengers were forced to wait for it to reopen.

Bermuda Weather Service put the Island on hurricane watch mid-afternoon after forecasters said Bertha could become a hurricane before clearing Bermuda. She passed over the Island at 3 p.m., as predicted, with wind intensifying here as she headed north.

Afternoon ferry services were cancelled and the Causeway was shut by Public Safety Minister David Burch due to the unexpected high winds. The cyclone caused waves of between 15 and 20 feet outside the reef and between four and six feet inside.

Bermuda Weather Service duty forecaster Geoffrey Saville said that wind gusts close to 80 mph (70 knots) were recorded at the Commissioner's House at Dockyard. "That's pretty strong gusts and that was just what was recorded," he said. "I think we are pretty much through the worst of it."

The hurricane watch remained in place at 9 p.m. last night when there were still winds of between 35 and 45 knots and hurricane-strength gusts of 65 knots.

Bertha was predicted to become a hurricane by 3 a.m. today. But Mr. Saville said she would hopefully be far enough away from the Island by then to prevent us suffering hurricane winds. By this morning the wind was expected to have dropped below tropical storm levels and the rain to have stopped by rush hour.

The wet weather caused some properties to flood, including a home in Whale Bay where firefighters climbed onto the roof to stop water coming through the light fixtures. Meanwhile, almost 7,000 homes were without power from late afternoon. Residential garbage collection was also disrupted as was Internet service for some users.

In Hamilton, rows of motorcycles were knocked to the ground and there were reports of flying debris and intermittent flooding on the roads, as well as poor visibility for drivers.

Senator Burch urged motorists to use extreme caution, particularly those on motorcycles. A car overturned near the Waterlot Inn in Southampton at about 2 p.m. but no one was reported to have been injured. Buses stopped operating at 9 p.m. but should be back to normal today along with the ferries.

Government offices remained open but some private firms decided to send staff home early and several day care centres sent children home.

John Paul, manager of PVC Windows and Doors, watched a tree topple onto two cars on Addendum Lane in Pembroke just before midday, an experience he described as "harrowing".

"It was so disturbing, it was horrific," he said. "I was standing by the door and I heard the crash and a crackling noise. It had two cars underneath the tree. The cars were damaged. It didn't completely crush them but it was lying on them."

Lieutenant Dana Lovell, from Bermuda Fire Service, said the 80ft by 4ft tree fell just before 11.30 a.m., damaging the old Staples building. Works and Engineering staff arrived within ten minutes to cut up the tree.

The abrupt closing of the Causeway caused problems for those needing to get in and out of the East End but Government said it could not have been avoided.

A spokeswoman explained that information from reconnaissance planes about the dangerous conditions came in at the last minute.

"It's a funny behaving storm," she said. "It's just been up and down and we have just been trying to follow it as best we can."

Sen. Burch went on radio station Hott 107.5 to urge the public to be patient while waiting for the bridge to reopen. But callers rang to chastise him for the decision to close at such short notice, with one woman describing how her young son was left home alone because she had assumed she would be able to get across.

American tourist Kathy Borden, from Portland, Oregon, told The Royal Gazette at 7.30 p.m: "We are stuck on a bus with no food and no water and we have got wet clothes on.

"People have to go to the bathroom and are trying to find places to go outside. We want to know why are the buses are still running if the Causeway is closed?"

Sen. Burch told Hott listeners that the Causeway usually closed if gusts reached 50 knots and last night they got to 69 knots. "Hurricanes are unpredictable and I will accept all criticism from the public for the decision that was made," he said.

Electricity outages were reported Island-wide with the bulk in the western parishes. Belco spokeswoman Linda Smith said: "The bulk of the calls for power outages came in around 3.30 p.m. There were 12 main lines that were down which left 7,000 customers without electricity. Our crew have been out working to restore these lines.

"The majority of the outages have been in the West End although there have been some calls coming from the central and eastern parishes." She said that all but 700 customers had power restored by 9 p.m. Crews were due to continue working till midnight and will resume at 7 a.m. today.

Diane Gordon, executive vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, said she fielded a number of calls yesterday morning from worried businesses but encouraged everyone to remain calm.

"Officially no businesses have been reported closed," she said, adding that Hamilton had been very quiet at about 3 p.m. meaning some firms probably had let employees go home.

About a thousand travellers — including the victorious Scottish cricket team which beat Bermuda — were affected when all 16 commercial flights off the Island were cancelled; the only incoming flight was a private jet which touched down to pick up some passengers before swiftly departing.

Aaron Adderley, manager of LF Wade International Airport, said the airport remained open throughout the day although it was deserted and most staff were sent home early.

He said today was expected to be business as usual with British Airways and Air Canada both bringing in larger planes to accommodate yesterday's passengers to London and Toronto respectively.

Airlines should have automatically rebooked passengers onto a flight today with the exception of British Airways which is asking customers to call 1-800-AIRWAYS to make sure they have a reservation.

Mr. Adderley said some travellers might have to be rerouted to different airports before flying onto their final destination.

Cruise ship Explorer of the Seas was due in yesterday but was delayed and Norwegian Majesty is due in today but may also be delayed, according to Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre.

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