yesterday, soaking the Island with more than an inch of much-needed rainfall and causing scattered power outages.

Belco linesmen were called to reports of outages on Ord Road in Paget, Angle Street in Hamilton, Shelly Bay and Spanish Point. They were able to restore power to most of the homes within the hour, a spokesman said.

Gale force winds of 25-35 knots with gusts up to 40 knots were recorded. A gale warning remained in place until 1 a.m. this morning.

Harbour Radio reported only one mishap in local waters due to the foul weather: A boat broke from its moorings at Ferry Reach.

A spokesman said the station was assisting the US Coast Guard search for a yacht which sent out an emergency signal several hundred miles northeast of Bermuda.

And the evening Somerset ferry was cancelled due to rough seas.

The Fire Service said there were no rain-related floodings.

US Naval Oceanography Command Facility forecasters said the tropical depression, downgraded last night to an extra-tropical low, was closest to Bermuda around 9 p.m. when it was located just 41 nautical miles south of the Island.

Total rainfall was expected to be about 2 inches by the time showers taper off today.

KEEPING DRY -- Visitors Mr. and Mrs. William Turner and their one-year-old Victoria enjoy their walks down Pitts Bay Road despite the pouring rain.