High winds left hundreds of homes across the Island without power yesterday.

According to a Belco spokeswoman, outages started to occur at around 3.45am, as high winds and heavy rains struck the Island. Larger outages were reported in Warwick, Paget and in the Tucker’s Town area, but smaller outages were reported across the Island.

“In all, approximately 875 customers were affected. In Warwick 365 were without power when a tree fell near Lindos, coming into contact with overhead lines,” the spokeswoman said.

“Works and Engineering requested that a second tree be cut down. Lines were de-energised, so that crews can work safely to complete that job. While Belco always has two crews on standby overnight, today six crews were called in.”

By around 3pm, she said power had been restored to all of the affected homes.

The spokeswoman urged the public to call 955 to report outages or other emergencies, such as downed power lines.

Meteorologist Athena Williams of the Bermuda Weather Service said the weather service recorded winds reaching 32 knots (37mph) and gusts of 45 knots (52mph).

She explained that the weather was caused by a low pressure system passing directly over the island, in association with a frontal boundary and a post-frontal trough.

“The low centre was tightly wrapped and the global models that we utilise did not pick up the increase in winds to gale force,” she said.

The weather is expected to improve as the week progresses, with winds dying down today as the low pressure systems moves further from the Island.