It was not the tropical storm that some believed but severe weather hit transport from flights to ferries across the Island yesterday.

Gale-force winds from a swirling body of low pressure that passed north of Bermuda caused sporadic power outages, and had many wondering if hurricane season had somehow come back.

Several incoming flights were forced to turn back as gusts neared 60mph, and the Bermuda Government had to issue an advisory assuring residents that the Causeway would remain open.

Drivers using two-wheeled transport were advised to use extra caution, with police reporting that at least one person was blown off their vehicle.

The storm, now headed off to our east, packed winds of tropical storm strength and churned up sea heights of 20ft and more outside the reef line. A small craft warning remains in effect, while several ferry services were suspended yesterday afternoon.

Belco had a busy evening responding to scattered power cuts, and the Paget stop lights were intermittently knocked out. The storm skirted 75 miles to Bermuda’s north in the afternoon, and may potentially develop as it heads farther out into warmer waters. The Atlantic hurricane season ended officially on November 30, making the extratropical low pressure system a comparative rarity.