Hail fell in Bermuda yesterday as the Island was battered by its first severe storm of the winter season.

Temperatures plummeted to the mid-50s Fahrenheit and heavy seas yesterday morning kept Government ferries in port.

The Bermuda Weather Service said hail -- a quarter of an inch in diameter -- was reported in several places including the Airport, Ferry Reach and Harrington Hundreds.

Lightning strikes played havoc with the power and crews from the Bermuda Electric Light Company was kept busy dealing with hundreds of calls.

Extra crews were also on standby last night to deal with any calls from the public when they got home from work to find the power out.

However the conditions were better than Monday when the Island was subjected to sustained winds of between 30 and 40 knots and gusts of up to 60 knots.

A large ridge of low pressure jammed between Bermuda and Nova Scotia was responsible for the wintry weather.

Temperatures plummeted to the mid-50s Fahrenheit yesterday and with the wind chill factor, temperatures reached as low as the early 30s Fahrenheit on Monday.

Despite the strong winds and lightning on Monday both the Police and Fire Service reported quiet nights with no reports of structural damage or flooding.

Harbour Radio also only received two reports of ships wanting to shelter from the weather.

The Ukrainian ship the Fatezh came to the Island yesterday to restow some cargo that had shifted and the Pauline Marie a 200-foot ship also came in for shelter.

Belco spokeswoman Linda Smith said crews were rushed off their feet dealing with hundreds of calls on Monday night and yesterday.

On Monday, circuits were out or disconnected for safety and repair reasons in Frog Lane, Glebe Road, Angle Street, Daniel's Head and Mariner's Lane.

Yesterday crews were kept constantly busy as squalls and lightning strikes repeatedly knocked power out in localised areas.

Ms Smith said at any one time between 50 and hundred homes were without power and altogether hundreds of homes were affected.

"The crews were playing catch-up all day. As they repaired one area, another area went without power,'' she said.

In one instance yesterday, power in Point Shares was restored by 12.10 p.m.

and went out again at 12.20 p.m. due to a lightning strike.

Areas affected by power cuts included Spanish Point, Grape Bay, Watlington Road, Town Hill and Somerset village where lightning affected a sub-station.

"It was very busy for the crews who had to hang in there. They worked some long hours and in the middle of the storm,'' said Ms. Smith.

The Corporation of Hamilton and the Bank of Butterfield said Sunday's washed out Concert in the Park, the last of the 1996 season, would not be rescheduled due to poor long range weather reports.