after Bermuda was battered by thunderstorms and lashing rain.

And yesterday forecasters warned Bermuda to brace for another hammering over the next 48 hours.

Firemen this weekend were stretched to the limit coping with 18 floodings across the Island.

Homes, restaurants, businesses, and shops were hit by several inches of water.

Some people even reported properties were momentarily blacked out because of lightning.

A US Coast Guard plane was also called out after an American couple's stricken boat began taking water.

And the weather continued to play havoc with flights out of North America, disrupting Bermudian passengers.

New York's La Guardia Airport was temporarily shut after planes were grounded by snow on Friday. It reopened shortly after noon yesterday.

Boston's Logan Airport was closed for three hours on Saturday. Over half the flights to the Island were cancelled from there and at other airports.

Bermudians have been affected in Canada as well, where atrocious weather shut down Toronto airport. Some students returning home for the Christmas holidays were forced to wit more than two days to return home.

Sporting events were hit as well -- a soccer match between PHC and Somerset was called off, and at least two other games were abandoned after kick-off.

And yesterday's Santa Claus parade ground to halt after being lashed by a sudden rainstorm.

Yesterday forecasters warned Bermuda to brace for more scattered thunderstorms.

Petty Officer Mark Vandever, from the US Naval Oceanography Command Facility, said gale-force winds gusting up to 40 knots could slam into the Island tomorrow morning.

That is when the intense low pressure -- which has devastated parts of the US and Canada -- is expected to come as close as 75 miles to the north of Bermuda.

"Hopefully the storms will have peaked out on Tuesday,'' said Petty Officer Vandever.

Already in America the killer storm has run up a multi-million-dollar damage bill.

Eastern US cities and coastal areas were hit by the worst storm in 15 years.

Fierce winds, stinging sleet and snowfall paralysed the region, ripping down power lines, tearing off roofs, and crushing hundreds of buildings. At least 13 people have been killed.

In Bermuda, firemen worked at full stretch dealing with a rash of flooding alerts.

It started at 10.30 p.m. on Friday when firemen were called out to a property in Middle Town, Pembroke.

Among premises flooded were the Bermudiana arcade; the Waterlot Inn, Southampton; the RAF Club, Victoria Street, Pembroke; Bermuda Mechanical, Devonshire; and the Bank of Bermuda in St. George's.

Homes flooded were in Cove Estates Road, St. David's; Mullet Bay, St.

George's; Rockview Road, Devonshire; Green Acres Road, Devonshire; Deepdale Road, Pembroke; Riviera Estate, Southampton; Hunters Wharf, St. George's; Green Acres Road, Devonshire; and Chellenor View, Hamilton Parish.

Firemen also dealt with a pole fire in Hermitage Road, Devonshire, which was blamed on high winds.

Said fire service spokesman Sgt. Wendell Simmons: "We have been extremely busy dealing with 18 floodings so far this weekend, but we have managed to cope.

"I am not aware of any property which was severely damaged by water.'' Sgt. Simmons said crews also had to put out two small property fires over the weekend -- at Tee Street, Devonshire, and Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke.

Harbour Radio say the rough weather damaged a rib on an American couple's baot, the Owl , which began leaking.

The vessel, en route to the Virgin Islands from Bermuda, was 285 miles off the southeast of the Island when it ran into difficulties.

Although the couple had a hand pump, a US Coast Guard plane flew out yesterday morning to help.

"The couple were dropped another pump. They were very tired by that time,'' a Harbour Radio spokesman said.

Fierce winds also snapped a mooring boom, causing two tenders next to Dutch oil magnate John Deuss's yacht, Fleurtje , to run adrift in Hamilton Habour yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, the Danish cargo ship, Secil Lulo , laden with 1,247 tons of gear for the Tynes Bay incinerator, arrived at St. George's yesterday afternoon more than eight hours late.

Despite the erratic weather, the 240-foot cruise ship Northern Ranger , left Bermuda for the Bahamas on Saturday morning.

WASHOUT -- Representatives of Bermuda's various churches continue to sing and dance during the Santa Parade despite the thunderstorm and torrential rain.