Bermuda closes down public schools as Hurricane Lee approaches

The Government of Bermuda released a statement on Wednesday, announcing the closure of public schools for the next two days, tentatively. The British Overseas Territory has made this decision in light of recent developments related to Hurricane Lee.

According to recent reports, the eye of the storm, or the center of Hurricane Lee is going to pass just to the west of the island before approaching the coast of New England or Atlantic Canada on Friday or Saturday.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the acting Minister of National Security, said in a statement that while schools will be closed, government services will continue to function normally. He also said that the Causeway will remain open for use.

In an update on Wednesday afternoon, Burch said, “Out of abundance of caution, ferry services will be suspended tomorrow with an assessment made on Friday”

He also said that buses will run as per their normal schedules until 5:50pm local time on Thursday. Following this, operations will be suspended for an assessment of viable routes on Friday.

Flights at LF Wade International Airport will be suspended from tomorrow onwards, with the exception of the British Airways flights to and from the island which will proceed as normal.

In its latest weather bulletin, the Miami based National Hurricane Center has stated that Hurricane Lee is about 420 miles south, southwest of Bermuda, with maximum sustained winds of 110 miles per hour.

The NHC said that Hurricane Lee is moving toward the north-northwest at roughly nine mph, which is why a tropical storm warning has been placed on Bermuda.

In a statement, the NHC further added that, “A turn towards the north is expected by tonight, followed by an increase in speed on Thursday and Friday.  On the forecast track, the center of Lee will pass west of Bermuda Thursday and Thursday night and then approach the coast of New England or Atlantic Canada Friday and Saturday.”

The NHC warned that even though there could be a slow weakening of the Hurricane over the next few days, it will remain a massive and dangerous Hurricane through the weekend.

The NHC also stated that the Lesser Antilles, the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda have been affected by the swells created by Hurricane Lee.

“These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions” said the NHC. A problematic eventuality for the region.