Fay hits Bermuda, becomes hurricane in open waters

Hurricane Fay toppled utility poles and knocked out power to thousands of people in Bermuda before moving out over open ocean, just as a new storm raced toward the eastern rim of the Caribbean threatening to become a hurricane.
Fay strengthened into a hurricane yesterday afternoon but was expected to return shortly to tropical storm strength, according to the US National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Gonzalo was centered roughly 125 miles (205 kilometers) east of the Guadeloupe yesterday afternoon and was expected to pick up strength as it moved toward Puerto Rico, according to the center.
Tracking west at about 12 mph (19 kph), forecasters said accelerating Gonzalo could reach hurricane strength by the time it hit Puerto Rico's southern coastline tomorrow morning.

After tracking across the US Caribbean territory of about 3.6 million people, forecasters expect Gonzalo to curve over the open Atlantic and stay away from the US East Coast.
Tropical storm warnings and watches were issued for a number of Caribbean locales, including the French dependency of Guadeloupe, the Dutch Caribbean territory of St. Maarten, as well as Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

As the wind began to pick up under partly blue skies yesterday, Caribbean residents wary of a possible blow from the approaching tropical storm stocked up on fuel and groceries and pulled boats ashore or moored them at marinas.

"We're being told that it's coming this way so people are trying to find safe havens for their boats. Hopefully, all we'll get is some rain but you have to be prepared as best as you can," said Jane Wherren, operations director at Crown Bay Marina, which caters to mega yachts and other pleasure watercraft up to 200 feet (60 meters) in length.
From Puerto Rico, the US Coast Guard warned people to avoid the ocean and stay away from shoreline rocks starting noon today. "Tropical Storm Gonzalo is developing quickly," said Guard Capt. Robert Warren.
Rain-swollen Gonzalo was expected to move through parts of the Leeward Islands by early today, producing 4 inches to 8 inches (10 centimeters to 20 centimeters) of rain, with some areas potentially getting soaked with as much as 12 inches (30 centimeters).

The storm forecasts prompted at least one cruise ship company to tweak its itineraries. Carnival Cruise Lines' Breeze ship cancelled a visit in La Romana, Dominican Republic, and its Liberty vessel is moving to western Caribbean ports to avoid the storm, according to spokesman Vance Gulliksen.