Bermuda was battered this morning by torrential rain that caused severe flooding in some areas.

The Bermuda Police Service advised motorists to avoid part of Middle Road in Southampton.

On Facebook, the BPS posted: “Motorists are being asked to avoid the portion of Middle Road, Southampton, near the junction with Lighthouse Road [Waterlot Inn], due to severe flooding in the area.

“There have already been reports of vehicles stalling after making attempts to pass through.

“Please use alternative routes.”

Photographs and videos of flooding throughout the island were circulated on social media.

They included images of Bakery Lane in Pembroke as well as videos of shops and restaurants that took in water.

One resident who lives on St John’s Road where there was significant flooding sent photographs to The Royal Gazette.

She said: “This is typical whenever there is lots of rain. The rain water comes down Berkeley Road Hill and meets St John’s Road impacting traffic.”

Another posted on social media: “We’ve all witnessed or seen the videos and pictures after the serious rainfall.

“This tells us that we have a serious infrastructure problem that has been neglected for some time.

“We need to do better because this is not it.

“Higher demands need to be made because the people of Bermuda deserve better.”

The Bermuda Weather Service reported this morning: “An abundance of moisture is being drawn up ahead of the low set to pass to our south today.

“Sporadic periods of rain with embedded showers and potentially gusty winds last through late afternoon, then drier and brighter conditions briefly return on Thursday.

“Hurricane Milton will downgrade to a post-tropical low shortly after entering the Atlantic and is expected to generate strong and gusty local winds as it passes to our south this weekend.”

As of noon, Hurricane Milton was considered a potential threat to the island.

The storm’s closest point of approach within the next 72 hours was forecast to be about 245 miles to the island’s southwest at midday on Saturday.

However, the BWS warned that the system could come closer after that time depending on its track.

The US-based National Hurricane Centre said that the storm was expected to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast tonight, pass over the state and reach the Atlantic tomorrow.

“Maximum sustained winds are near 145mph with higher gusts,” the NHC said. “Milton is a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

“Milton is expected to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the west-central coast of Florida tonight, and remain at hurricane strength while it moves across the Florida peninsula through Thursday.

“Gradual weakening is forecast while Milton moves eastward over the western Atlantic, and it is likely to become an extratropical storm by early Friday.”

The NHC is also monitoring a non-tropical low pressure system around 375 miles west-southwest of the island for possible development.

“Although environmental conditions are becoming less favourable for development, a short-lived tropical or subtropical storm could still form today or this evening while the low moves northeastward to east-northeastward at around 15mph,” the NHC said.

“Upper-level winds are forecast to become too strong for further development later tonight.”

• Do you have photos or videos of the flooding in Bermuda or were you affected? E-mail us at news@royalgazette.com