Source: Loop Caribbean
The Government of Bermuda has decided to close all public schools on Friday out of an abundance of caution due to the warning for Tropical Storm Philippe.
Schools will reopen on Monday, October 9.
The Emergency Measures Organisation has also decided the following:
The Causeway will remain open and will be closely monitored
Government offices will open on Friday as per normal
The Emergency Shelter at Cedarbridge Academy will be open to any resident who needs it from 9 p.m. on Thursday, October 5.
The LF Wade International Airport will be open on Friday.
Bus services will run normally on Friday.
Ferries on Friday will be suspended, with the exception of the Pink Route, which will operate normally.
Friday’s garbage collection will be deferred until Saturday for collection. Residents should refrain from putting out garbage on Friday night.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in its 5 p.m. update said the outermost rain bands from Philippe are reaching Bermuda with tropical storm conditions expected to begin on the island early Friday.
NHC said at 5 PM AST (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Philippe was located near latitude 27.0 North, longitude 66.2 West. Philippe is moving toward the north near 14 mph (22 km/h), and this general motion with an increase in forward speed is expected to continue through Saturday night.
A turn toward the north-northwest is forecast early Sunday.
On the forecast track, the centre of Philippe will pass near or just west of Bermuda on Friday, and then reach the coast of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or eastern Maine on Saturday night.
Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next day or so. Some strengthening is possible Friday night or Saturday, but Philippe is expected to become post-tropical on Saturday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 230 miles (370 km) to the east of the centre.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected on Bermuda beginning early Friday morning.
RAINFALL: Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected across Bermuda through Friday. This rainfall could result in flash
flooding.
For portions of New York and New England, rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches, with local amounts of 5 inches, are expected with Philippe as it moves through the region Saturday and Saturday night. Isolated to scattered instances of urban and flash flooding are expected.
For portions of Southeast Canada, rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches, with local amounts of 5 inches, are expected with Philippe as it moves through the region this weekend. Isolated to scattered instances of urban and flash flooding are expected.
SURF: Large swells are already affecting Bermuda from another weather system but will increase further tonight as Philippe approaches the island. Swells are also reaching portions of the southeastern US coast and will spread northward along the east coast to Atlantic Canada during the next couple of days.
These conditions are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.