Hurricane Nicole is one of the strongest storms to ever hit Bermuda, with maximum sustained winds recorded at a speed of 120 miles per hour, as the eye of the Category 3 hurricane is ten miles east of Bermuda and heading northeast at 16 miles per hour.
Bermuda Bears Brunt of Hurricane Nicole
Only seven major hurricanes have passed within 40 nautical miles of Bermuda since officially keeping records began in 1851.
Downgraded from a Category 4 hurricane, the large storm is expected to cause a storm surge of as much as eight feet above normal tide levels, with up to eight inches of rain.
Dangerous surf conditions and riptide currents will affect not only Bermuda directly; but will also affect portions of the east coast of the United States.
Power is out for 20,000 people at this time; and reports of damage to structures are first being released. No fatalities have been reported at this time.
Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations
If you are traveling to Bermuda over the next few days, expect delays and cancellations. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to this tropical system, which may adversely affect your travel plans. Better yet, postponing or canceling your trip might be a better option — no matter which mode of travel you plan on taking.
If you have a flight scheduled, your flight will most likely be delayed or canceled — and you may be eligible for a waiver of a fee to change your itinerary.
Here are four airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of Tropical Storm Nicole:
- Delta Air Lines currently has an alert for travel to Bermuda between Thursday, October 13, 2016 and Friday, October 14, 2016 where your ticket must be reissued on or prior to — and rebooked travel must begin no later than — Tuesday, October 18, 2016.
- JetBlue Airways currently has an alert for travel to Bermuda between Thursday, October 13, 2016 and Friday, October 14, 2016 where your ticket must be reissued on or prior to — and rebooked travel must begin no later than — Tuesday, October 18, 2016.
- American Airlines has a similar travel waiver — except that the alert is for Thursday, October 13, 2016 and you can travel on either October 11 – 12, 2016 or October 14 – 16, 2016.
- Air Canada also has a travel alert for today, Thursday, October 13, 2016.
Summary
The aforementioned alerts pertain to Bermuda only. Contact your airline or transportation provider for the latest information pertaining to your travels — and please: travel safely.
Source: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce of the United States.
