Fri. Sept 7: Tropical Storm Leslie Live Blog/Videos
[Updating - downgraded to Tropical Storm, expected to regain hurricane status, however Bermuda is expected to be spared a direct impact as it passes 150 miles to our east on Sunday. Ferries will not run over the weekend, beaches remain closed and school students go back in on Tuesday]
The island continues to prepare as Hurricane Leslie continues to drift north across the Atlantic in a very slow fashion. The Bermuda Weather Service issued a Tropical Storm Watch yesterday, and this morning said the probability of hurricane force winds affecting the island has decreased, however is not ruled out.
In their 6am update today [Sept 7] the BWS said Leslie’s closest point of approach to Bermuda within 72 hrs is forecast to be 163 nautical miles to the ESE at 1pm on Sunday [Sept 9]. Previous forecasts had called for Leslie to be within 30 miles of us.
BWS forecaster Michelle Pitcher said: “It is unlikely, due to the stalling of Leslie that any other tropical watches or warnings will be issued today.
“Leslie is still a very large in size storm and regardless of the distance of the eye to Bermuda, I still expect the tropical storm force winds to impact our area for a time as it draws near and then later passes.
“The probability of hurricane force winds to affect the area has decreased, but is still not ruled out.”
In their 5am update, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Leslie is 415 miles south south-east of Bermuda, and moving towards the north at 1mph. Leslie’s maximum sustained winds are near 75mph [120km/h] with higher gusts.
Summary As Of 7.30am – Friday, September 7:
- As of Friday morning, Leslie is 415 miles SSE of Bermuda, moving north at 1mph
- Hurricane Leslie to pass by the island on Sunday morning
- Causeway to close when sustained winds exceed 50 knots, expected to be late Sat. afternoon
- Causeway may remain closed for an extended period of time due to the expected duration
- Government offices will close at 3pm on Friday to allow staff to make final preparations
- Ferries will run to schedule on Friday but will not run at all on Saturday and Sunday
- Buses will continue service until Saturday whenever winds exceed 40 knots
- Public schools will be closed to all students on Friday
- MSA, Saltus & BHS schools will be open on Friday, and closed on Monday
- CedarBridge is the island-wide emergency shelter, will open from 12 noon on Saturday
- CedarBridge shelter contact number: 292 6339
- Department of Airport Operations to announce on Friday when the Airport will close
- Numerous flight cancellations are expected
- Butterfield Bank in-branch banking and drive-thru banking services are closed on Saturday
- The Hamilton Cargo Docks will be closed on Friday for deliveries
- BELCO’s Hurricane Response Plan is activated
- Final storm preparations should be completed by the evening of Friday
- Government’s emergency broadcast station 100.1 FM will begin broadcasting
- All our Hurricane Leslie information can be found here
Our latest Hurricane Leslie videos, click to view:
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We will update through the day with the developments:
Update 10.56am: City Hall will be closed all day on Saturday, the last City garbage collection will be on Saturday at 11:00pm and all City bars and restaurants are “strongly advised” not to put out garbage after the last pick up on Saturday evening.
Update 10.58am: BELCO wishes to advise customers that due to Hurricane Leslie, its cashiers’ windows will close early today, and no payments can be accepted after 4:45pm.
Update 11.02am: Capital G Bank Limited said “due to the size and unpredictability of Hurricane Leslie,” they will close their in-branch and call centre services on Saturday. Their full statement is here.
Update 11.52am: WEDCo said: “Due to the predicted bad weather and non-arrival of the Norwegian Dawn on Sunday, Destination Dockyard is officially cancelled for Monday 10th September.” In addition, the Clocktower Mall will will be closed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday and will reopen on Tuesday, 11th September.
Update 12.34pm: Premier Paula Cox spoke with us about the hurricane during her pre-storm tour, and Opposition Leader Craig Cannonier spoke about the community spirit that prevails during hurricanes.
Update 12.41pm: Leslie has been downgraded to a Tropical Storm, however the U.S.National Hurricane Center said it is expected to regain strength. As of now Leslie’s maximum sustained winds are near 70mph [110km/h] with higher gusts.
The NHC said: “Leslie is stationary…and little motion is anticipated today. A northward track with a gradual increase in forward speed should begin Saturday…No change in intensity is expected today…but Leslie could regain hurricane status this weekend.”
Update 2.56pm: The Logic Retail Store on Victoria street will close at 5pm today — instead of 6pm — in advance of Tropical Storm Leslie.
Update 3.30pm: A quick video below of the conditions at Astwood Park this afternoon
Update 3.41pm: A.S. Cooper and Astwood Dickinson said that due to the “slower path and improved forecast” with Leslie, they will remain open on Saturday [Sept 8] in all locations except for the Clocktower Mall in Dockyard.
Update 3.43pm: Tweet from CNN below:
Hurricane Leslie weakens to tropical storm, appears likely to miss Bermuda. on.cnn.com/QmGdTi
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) September 7, 2012
Update 4.06pm: Preparations are underway this afternoon at the airport
The Department of Airport Operations had asked people to move their cars from the long term parking as its prone to flooding. As of 4pm today, there are approximately 18 cars in the long term parking.
Update 4.40pm: British Airways has just announced that the Saturday flights will be operating, but at earlier times. Inbound flight #2233 from London will be arriving at 4.30pm [two hours earlier than usual] and outbound flight BA #2232 will leave Bermuda for London at 6.20pm. Both inbound and outbound flights on British Airways have been cancelled on Sunday.
Update 5.10pm: An official update on Tropical Storm Leslie has just been provided following a meeting of the Emergency Measures Organisation today, saying we are expected to be spared a direct impact from a hurricane and that “weekend activities can follow their normal pattern with the exception that all warnings for the use of our beaches.” A quick summary is below, and you can read the full statement here.
- Bermuda expected to be spared a direct impact from a hurricane
- Leslie to pass by more than 150 miles to our east.
- CedarBridge Emergency Shelter will not open on Saturday, but remains ready
- Schools will open for teachers on Monday, and students will return on Tuesday [Sept 11]
- The Causeway will remain open unless sustained winds exceed 50 knots.
- The re-opening of Government offices will be advised after the passage of the storm.
- Buses will continue to run on Saturday unless sustained winds exceed 40 knots
- The Ferry Service will run to the end of today, but not Saturday or Sunday
Update 5.32pm: Jim Cantore from the Weather Channel is in Bermuda to cover Leslie. His latest tweet is below
Beautiful turquoise waters of John Smith’s Bay on the south shore of #BermudaWaves from #Leslie pounding t instagr.am/p/PST_ksPPY-/
— Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) September 7, 2012
Update 7.50pm: British Airways released an updated statement saying: “Based on the ever changing weather forecast, the L.F. Wade Airport has decided to hold off on their official decision to close the airport. Therefore should the airport be open on Sunday, the British Airways Sunday flights will operate. Passengers are requested now to wait until tomorrow to hear if the airport will be open thus enabling flights to operate.”
Any news on whether Government schools will be open on Monday?
No, sorry, nothing yet…
will there still be bingo on Sunday?
Call the bingo promoters
Bingo, are you serious lady!!! get you life together.
Kind Regards
Are there any churches open on Sunday ?
Call the church of your choice.
Bermuda is so pathetic the Government did not allow the schols to open today, the offices are closing early and some private sectors are having half day…
Bermuda wake up stop finding excuses to not work or allow children not to go to school.
You have tonight and tomorrow to prepare and should have been preparing all week likeI did so my things are done i can only bunker down and pray to god that we go smooth sailing throught the storm.
betty, have you ever been a school administrator in Bermuda? Further, I get the impression family is not high on your list of priorities.
Wha Ya Mad?
Wha Ya Upset?
Wha ya Unhappy?
Wha Ya Foriegn?
WHA YA DUMB?
I am 50/50 with your comment. The half day work or closing early is justifiable as this gives working people the time to purchase last minute essentials. YES they should have prepared all week but this is a good gesture from employers.
As for public schools being closed, i totally agree that they should have been open. Other private schools are open and operating as normal. They will take the necessary steps to prepare for the storm tonight and tomorrow. O well.
the storm is unpredictable. Better safe than sorry! If schools and offices had opened and Leslie sped up, you would be complaining that “The Government” were not better prepared. Get a life! Not everybody has as much time as you to prepare.
Those decisions were made based on the best information available at the time. To make a decision, change it, and then change it back would have been most unhelpful and led to mass confusion.
I applaud them for being proactive and having a plan. We cannot control whether the storm comes, how close, etc. Better to err on the side of caution. Nothing at all wrong with that. Since you’re all prepared for the storm (unlike some of us who have been at work all week and unable to prepare) you can start happy hour at 3pm today.
Have a safe one.
Since ya grumbling and complaining so much, and since you have been ready all week, I hope you got up off ya ASS long enough to go and help out people that couldn’t (for whatever reason) prepare for Leslie by themselves!
Stupid ass SOBS honestly!
I for one was grateful that I didn’t have to run around helping my elderly relatives at the cost of worrying about collecting kids today! One less burden to bare!
You are more than likely some slave driving boss that thinks they can kill their staff because they can be replaced!!!
People like you make me f’in sick!
Whatever you do, don’t use Leslie as an excuse to go surfing, anyone! I know that pre-hurricane is typically a really popular time for Bermudians to try surfing due to how unusually high the waves are, but its just plain dangerous!
BE SAFE, BERMUDA!!!! GOD BLESS!!!!!!
Any news from Dept. of Education if they expect schools to be closed on Monday?
No sorry, nothing yet…just know most the private schools are closed on Monday. We know how vital the school info is, so as soon as it comes we will have it up within 5 mins.
Sure looks like the insurance company’s scored again and yet they hate to pay out for any insurance claim.
Makes me feal like they pay off the weather station.
I appreciate that some of you are ready for the storm…some of us have senior family members and their homes to see to as well. I can also understand that it makes no sense to have the kids first day back to school be today. Despite parents being ready for them to go back….people have got the “hurricane buzz’ and are stuck on stupid (saying that kindly) but the less children on the roads/catching buses etc…the better. (You ever been by heron bay and kids trying to cross/buses/and last minute shoppers??)
We would have already been starting the effects right about now had the storm kept up strength…so
Just cause YOUR ready, great pat on your back…some of us who EMPLOY Bermudians have companies, job sites to shut down.
Stop your winjing and appreciate an action plan is in place. I am not a PLP supporter…so this is not political based.
Use your sense..after Fabian, it is in everyone’s best interest we have a side of caution.
Does anyone smell an election?
Government offices closed at 3:00 PM… Yup smells like an election year to me.
Colonel Burch would be business as usual. However, I am remembering how Isaac treated Louisiana. They thought ah, this will just be a little blow and BOY were they wrong!
Oh shut up already!
Election or no election peoples safety comes first and foremost so Thank You Government for doing something right for your citizens!
Stupid ass comments for stupid ass attention….
Any one heard anything about the airports? Meant to be on the BA flight tomorrow…
I see they’re boarding up but according to all radar images it isn’t even going to touch us!
Just posted the BA flight info 10 mins after your comment. Full details are here: http://bernews.com/2012/09/ba-flights-to-operate-tomorrow-earlier-times/
so their will be no flights coming in on saturday? because delta says my flight is still on
how about delta flights
Sorry, the only official thing we have on airlines is the British Airways, but we will update when we get anything on any others…
Check Delta yourself tomorrow. Sheesh, can’t anyone do anything for themselves anymore?
30kts of wind maximum maybe. It is all the PLPs fault. They have screwed up Bermuda so bad even hurricanes don’t want to visit.
Trinagle…get real.
This as usual is like watching the Young and The Restless.
Have not watched it for over twenty years.
Go figure.
Whats in your community.
Can someone tell me something? Why is it that on here, half the comments are negative about Bermuda and its’ people? And why do the people that run this site allow this? And now you blame what is happening with the storm on the PLP. And you wonder why people don’t trust the other party?
The irony may escape you good sir, but you just left a negative comment while complaining about negative comments.
Maybe, because i am fat up just like most of the younger people with us elders actions and speech and yes i am quilty!
While you islanders all have your eyes trained on Leslie, there’s a weather formation in the Gulf just south of New Orleans which strangely enough is the remnant of ‘Isaac’. Currently, it only has a 20% chance of developing into a named storm, but if it does it will be called ‘Nadine’….the world’s first bisexual storm!!!
Good catch. Wonder what Bishop Duncan thinks about that?
lol dis blog ish is makin me lmfao!!! same ol same ol even a storm missin us can be blamed on d goverment u ppl kill me
lol
Some people are way to sensitive. They don’t recognise scarcastic humour when it slaps them in the face.