Bermuda experienced strong to near gale force winds overnight and this morning as a cold front roared through the area.

The Bermuda Weather Service said this morning that fairer conditions will gradually develop later today, as high pressure builds in from the north.

But the forecast added: “However, strong winds will linger for much of the week.”

It said moderate to rough seas will increase later today before gradually decreasing.

Winds this morning are northeasterly 23 to 35 mph with gusts to 45mph before moving to east-northeasterly this afternoon. They may increase to 28 to 40mph with gusts to 50mph.

Patchy light rain and drizzle with fair to poor visibility are also expected this morning, and seas inside the reef are 2 to 4ft and 10 to 14ft outside.

The strong winds came after Bermuda was sandwiched between two low-pressure systems, including Tropical Storm Nicole, which caused yesterday’s wet conditions and last night’s strong winds.

The Bermuda Weather Service said in its 11.30am forecast yesterday that Tropical Storm Nicole had sent unsettled weather to the island with occasional rain and showers.

As of noon, the storm was about 565 miles west-southwest of Bermuda and moving westward at about 9mph.

Anton Wiltshire, meteorological forecaster with the Bermuda Weather Service, said yesterday: “On its present track, Tropical Storm Nicole does not pose a threat to the island.

“Cloudy conditions will persist today, but as Nicole and the low to our north east moves further away, most of the unsettled weather is expected to slip south of the region early tomorrow and high pressure is poised to become dominant over the area producing drier and brighter conditions through the end of the week.

“As high pressure moves in from the north west, it produces an isobaric squeeze which will see our winds strengthen to 20 to 30 knots overnight with higher gusts possible, lingering through late tomorrow. Also, moderate to strong winds should persist into the weekend.”

Meanwhile, a second system about 875 miles east of Bermuda was being tracked for potential development.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the system had become better organised, but conditions were not conducive for further development.

The service estimated that the system, which was also drifting away from the island, had a 30 per cent chance of becoming a named storm within 48 hours.

Mr Wiltshire said that the hurricane season does not end until November 30, so tropical storms and hurricanes can still form if the conditions are conducive.

“For 2022, the NOAA Climate Prediction Centre updated forecast is for another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season, with 14 to 20 named storms, of which six to ten could become hurricanes and three to five could become major hurricanes,” he added.

“So far, there have been 14 named storms, five hurricanes and two major hurricanes — Tropical Storm Nicole is also forecast to become a hurricane tomorrow night, which should bring the total to six hurricanes in 2022.”