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Teddy: winds to rise this evening

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Devonshire Bay late morning today (Photograph by Jonathan Bell)

Bermuda should expect winter storm conditions over the next two days as Hurricane Teddy passes to the east.Winds of more than 20mph are forecast for this afternoon, rising to 40mph by this evening. Sustained winds of 57mph are forecast for early tomorrow, with peak gusts of 75mph lasting until noon.Hurricane Teddy, which remains a major storm, is still considered a threat to Bermuda and a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect.At 9am today, Teddy was forecast to pass 138 miles to the east of the island at 9am on Monday as a Category 2 hurricane, with 98mph winds near its centre.Hurricane Teddy at 9am was 322 miles south-southeast of Bermuda and moving northwest at 12mph with maximum sustained winds of 104mph.Public schools will be closed tomorrow and open on Tuesday, although teachers will be expected to work from home.Principals and custodians will assess schools, but other staff are asked to avoid school buildings on Monday to enable any cleanup to go ahead.Government buildings will also be closed on Monday, with public officers to work remotely from home.The Causeway will remain open, as will LF Wade International Airport, with staff in place to conduct Customs and immigration clearance. Ferries will operate until noon today and buses will run until 9pm. Neither will operate tomorrow and commuter service is due to resume on Tuesday.The shelter at CedarBridge Academy in Devonshire will not be needed for Hurricane Teddy, and will remain shut.Covid-19 testing continues at the airport, and the call centre and the Molecular Diagnostics lab at Southside will be open, although the Perot testing facility in Hamilton will be closed tomorrow.Gary Hall, a forecaster with the Bermuda Weather Service, said in his update at 7am today: “Model guidance has been very consistent by tending Teddy to the northwest but then bending right or to the north-northeast beginning this afternoon and into tonight.“This slight turn to the right will be crucial as to avoid a direct hit from Teddy, which is a Category 3 storm at present.”Mr Hall said potential showers and thunder could hit Bermuda in the early afternoon, and more widespread showers into the evening and overnight.Dangerous surf and swell will also develop today and waves could reach 25ft by late tonight.He said tropical storm-force wind may last until late tomorrow night, slowly reducing to about 23mph by Tuesday afternoon.Renée Ming, the Minister of National Security, told a press conference yesterday: “I am pleased to note that all of our partner agencies have reported that they are ready and prepared.”Ms Ming said they remained “hurricane mode” despite Teddy no longer appearing as if it would head straight for Bermuda.The Emergency Measures Organisation will be on duty from 7.30am to 7pm at the Hamilton Fire Station tomorrow.Anyone needing to report storm damage, or help with downed trees, power lines or debris blocking roads, should call 261-4366 (261-4EMO).Ms Ming added: “Following the passage of Hurricane Teddy on Monday morning, our critical work crews from the Department of Parks, the Royal Bermuda Regiment and Ministry of Public Works will do an assessment of the roads and clear any debris.“We are asking the public to be mindful of these necessary works and to please, if you can, avoid travelling the roads so that our teams can conduct their necessary works.”She reminded the public to maintain Covid-19 “caution and common sense”.

Image from the Bermuda Weather Service
Devonshire Bay late morning today (Photograph by Jonathan Bell)
Devonshire Bay late morning today (Photograph by Jonathan Bell)
Renée Ming, the Minister of National Security, at a press conference yesterday