Rains leave heavy flooding
Some saw yesterday's bucketing rainfall as a blessing for the tanks.
While others around the Island struggled with their vehicles which stalled in the deep floods that it caused.
Lt. Dana Lovell from the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service told The Royal Gazette in the afternoon: "So far we've had more than 26 incidents of flooding that we've had to respond to
."We had calls from the western end of the Island to the central Parishes. We've have more than 40 Fire personnel out there dealing with flooding.
"Lt. Lovell expected more calls for assistance with floods as people finished work and headed home yesterday.
"We've dealt with incidents from water overflowing onto people's driveways, into tanks and people's homes.
"He said the worst flooding case Fire personnel had to deal with in the daytime was flooding at the Warwick Academy school.
"At Warwick Academy we had about six feet of water in a classroom but we were able to pump it out." Some businesses sent staff home early.
Throughout the day an e-mail had been circulating warning people which roads not to take while heading home from work due to severe flooding.
The list included: The vicinity of the Perfume Factory, Tee Street in Devonshire, Harbour Road, Roberts Avenue in Pembroke, Woodlands and Serpentine Roads in Pembroke, Dundonald Street in Hamilton and parts of South Shore Road.
The perimeter around Masters Ltd. on Dundonald Street was again the scene of severe flooding. During last week Tuesday's severe thunderstorm which effects seemed comparable to yesterday, parked motorcycles were floating around outside of the building.
Woodlands Road had to be blocked off from motorists after a nearby creek and the floodwaters became one.
However, it wasn't all gloomy. At Bakery Lane in Pembroke, which also saw severe flooding, onlookers were determined not to let the water dampen their spirits.
Michelle Christensen had to see it for herself after boyfriend Kenneth Paltl, who works at the nearby Bermuda Interiors Ltd., told her about the flooding, which earlier saw people rowing around in an inflatable boat and a child using the waters to operate his remote-controlled boat.
"This happens all the time," said Mr. Paltl, who had just finished work.
"It's not a surprise but this flooding is extreme. It won't be cleared up overnight because it doesn't seem to be draining anywhere fast enough.
"Ms Christensen added: "I just wanted to see how high the water was... it's a couple of feet deep and I'm surprised by what I see since only around three inches of rain fell, according to the news."
The Bermuda Weather Service (BWS) blamed the flooding on a low pressure system that had travelled from the US which had caused widespread damage and flooding there.
Meteorologist Ian Currie said BWS had recorded around 2.83 inches of rainfall by the late afternoon and said the heavy rain would clear up overnight but predicted gale force winds later this week.
He explained: "We're still getting some occasional showers now but the main body of the system responsible for today's heavy rainfall has moved off.
"Tonight we might see the occasional shower and there remains the possibility of thunder storms. The winds are picking up and they'll likely reach gale force later on up to 34 knots (39 MPH) it's going to be windy for the next few days.
"The system dumped up to four inches of rain on mid Atlantic states in the US, according to national newspaper USA Today and The Associated Press.
It battered the region from Sunday afternoon to Monday morning and knocked out power to 70,000 homes and businesses while sparking evacuations in low-lying flooded areas.
Where you affected by the floodwaters? E-mail reporter Tari Trott at ttrottroyalgazette.bm.