Storm Watch

Here we go again. Last year Hurricane Bill threatened to punish Bermuda with high seas and 135 mph winds. Remember that? I even shot this crazy Al Roker-esque video from Church Bay, with strong winds whipping around the camera and gnarly waves crashing steadily upon the shore. It all looked pretty grim for awhile. I went to Gorhams—our local Home Depot-type hardware store—and stocked up on everything I was told I'd need: Batteries, water, rope, flashlights (even though I already had four). And while everyone here on the island hunkered down for a direct hit the Category 4 storm spared us and passed to the west, with the bulk of damage being trashed beaches and hysterically, this doormat (no not really, but it was one of the most humorous pictures being circulated around Bermuda the day after the storm). Well, consider this the first official scare of 2010. According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Colin has reformed and is making its way up the Atlantic—and it's got Bermuda in it sights. With maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour, the storm was 400 miles south-southwest of the island heading north-northwest at 11 miles per hour at 8:45 a.m. Atlantic Time this morning. On the current forecasted track, Colin should pass within 86 miles of Bermuda at its closest point at about 11 p.m. tomorrow, with storm force winds extended up to 105 miles from its center (for the latest visit the Bermuda Weather Service). Who knows what'll happen but there's one thing I'm certain of: I definitely have enough flashlights.