As predicted, during Friday 5th September Hurricane Fabian smashed into the small island of Bermuda leaving vast swathes of damage in its wake. During the height of the storm, winds peaked at over 120mph (200kph) making Fabian the strongest hurricane to hit the island for over 50 years. According to the Saffir Simpson scale, the hurricane was rated category 3, and with no shelter for the island from the open Atlantic the hurricane slammed into the British dependency with extreme ferocity. Towards dawn local time, the conditions began to ease, allowing residents to begin counting the cost of the damage caused. Over 30,000 homes were left without electricity and clean water, roads were blocked by falling trees and debris, and around the coast a huge storm surge resulted in severe flooding to waterfront properties.

Thankfully the island of Bermuda received a lifeline due to good forecasts of the hurricane's track, some 48hrs before it struck. This allowed services to be closed down and residents to carry out makeshift protections to their properties. However, despite the advanced warning an estimated 150 people received injuries requiring treatment, and 4 people are still missing presumed dead after their vehicles were washed away during the storm surge. As the clear-up begins, initial damage estimates are running into many millions of dollars. Teams of engineers from the US and from the UK are expected to join the rebuilding efforts, including aid from the Royal Navy.

North Atlantic. Here it is expected to merge into a large depression which may well promote unsettled weather in the UK over the next week. Meanwhile, more disturbances are being monitored in the Atlantic with the possibility of further hurricane development over the next few days.