High winds and rising surf come ashore at Church Bay Beach as Hurricane Igor approaches Bermuda on Sunday. (Kat Jackson/Reuters)

Hurricane Igor is lashing Bermuda with heavy rain and high winds, forcing islanders to board up windows, fill sandbags and stock up on emergency supplies.

The eye of Igor was expected to pass near Bermuda late Sunday evening, the U.S. Hurricane Center said. At 11 p.m. AT on Sunday, Igor was 65 kilometres west of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h. Igor will begin to move away from the island on Monday.

The hurricane, which was downgraded to a Category 1 storm overnight, could produce as much as 230 millimetres of rainfall.

The wind whipsawed trees and flagpoles in downtown Hamilton. Power failed in many spots, but there were no early reports of major damage, The Associated Press reported.

A dangerous storm surge was expected to produce significant coastal flooding on the island. The surge will likely be accompanied by large and destructive waves, particularly along the southern coast, the forecaster said.

The storm was expected to veer northeast — away from the United States — after passing Bermuda. But large swells will continue to affect the U.S. East Coast through Monday.

Forecasters in Canada said Igor could bring heavy rains to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland on Monday or Tuesday.