Powerful Hurricane Nicole slamming Bermuda as 'major' hurricane

Bermuda, a 21-square-mile oasis in the Atlantic for the wealthy and top destination for East Coast cruise ship travelers, is experiencing Thursday one of its strongest hurricanes since records began there in the late 19th century.

Category 4 Hurricane Nicole is blasting the island with hurricane force winds and a storm surge of 6 to 8 feet. The hurricane is the seventh hurricane to hit on or near the island in the past decade. However, it is an unusually powerful storm to hit there.

SEE ALSO: Veteran caught in extreme flooding saved thanks to drone

Bermuda's buildings are constructed to withstand at least moderate hurricanes, though a Category 4 storm may test even well-constructed structures. 

Reports from the island on Thursday indicate widespread power and phone outages, as well as winds so powerful they are sounding like a roaring, groaning noise. 

The videos from Bermuda showing the storm's impacts are intense.

Fortunately, the storm's eastern eyewall — where the strongest winds are likely to be located — is missing the island by about 50 miles, with a somewhat weaker side of the storm hitting instead. Still, winds have already gusted to 119 miles per hour as of 11:30 a.m. local time.

The storm had been a Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale until it underwent a period of rapid intensification on Wednesday, growing to a far more damaging Category 4. 

Depending on the extent of the damage, Nicole could delay a resupply mission to the International Space Station that is scheduled to launch from Virginia on Sunday evening. NASA maintains tracking equipment on Bermuda that is needed for such launches, and significant damage could delay the launch.

BONUS: International Space Station spots Hurricane Nicole headed for Bermuda.