Hurricane Nicole wrecks Bermuda, tiny Atlantic island by causing widespread damage.
Nicole, the strongest hurricane to sweep the Bermuda in more than a decade, made landfall, packing sustained winds of up to 120 miles per hour (195 kph) and ranking as a fierce Category 3 storm on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale.
The storm, with an eye about 30 miles (48 km) across, weakened after moving back into the open sea and was downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane, its maximum sustained winds diminished to 110 miles per hour (175 kph).
Bermuda is often in the paths of Atlantic storms and has extensive experience in handling them. The last hurricane to score a direct hit on the island territory was Gonzalo, which made landfall as a Category 2 storm days after the island was hit by Tropical Storm Fay.
Hurricane Fabian, which pummelled the island in 2003 and caused $300 million in damage, was a Category 3 storm.
