Howling winds, lashing rain and swirling waters hit the island at 1:00 pm. bringing two days of destruction to life, property, crops and livestock. Flood waters, unleashed by the heaviest rainfall ever recorded in a single day (512.4 mm), caused roads to be submerged in more than a metre of water and impassable to traffic. Hundreds of vehicles were abandoned and several cars stalled after hitting into deep waters or trees and lamp posts. Airline flights, train and mail schedules were disrupted.