Hurricane Nicole has roared across Bermuda, pummelling the resort island with winds up to 210 km/h that snapped trees and peeled off roofs before the storm spun away into open water.
The Category 3 system has also flooded homes, damaged boats that broke away from their moorings and knocked out power to more than 27,000 customers who live in the British territory.
Crews were clearing roads, and many islanders were posting pictures of calmer seas and clearer skies.
However Bermuda Premier Michael Dunkley said that there was "no indication of any loss of life or serious injuries" as a result of Hurricane Nicole.
Bermuda braced for Hurricane Nicole late Wednesday as it churned toward the islands, with forecasters warning of a possible direct hit.
"On the forecast track, the core of Nicole will pass over or near Bermuda on Thursday," the US National Hurricane Center said in a 0300 GMT update.
The storm's top sustained winds have increased to near 215 kilometres per hour, with higher gusts, the Miami-based NHC said.
Nicole was about 290 kilometres south-southwest of the tiny British islands in the Atlantic, moving north-northeast at 12 miles per hour.
Hurricane-force winds extend 65 miles from the center, the HNC said.
The authorities closed schools and government offices, and buildings were boarded up as rains hit the islands on Wednesday.
Last week, Hurricane Matthew caused devastation in Haiti and other Caribbean countries before sweeping up the US southeast coast.
