 As Tropical Storm Arlene tracked towards Bermuda, residents on the island were advised to take precautions and board up their homes. This followed the issuance of a tropical storm advisory for the island. On August 12, Arlene produced squally weather throughout Bermuda as the outer bands impacted the region. Rainfall from the storm peaked at 1.65 in (42 mm). A blind sailor was caught in the storm for two days while trying to become the first blind man to cross the Atlantic Ocean alone. On August 14, he encountered the full-force of the storm, 12 ft (3.7 m) seas and 60 mph (97 km / h) winds battered his 36 ft (11 m) foot-sloop called the Eye Opener while trying to dock in Bermuda. The forced docking at Bermuda cost the sailor roughly US $ 8,000 due to damages from the storm. On August 14, Arlene brushed Bermuda, producing torrential rains, rough seas and gusty winds. The center of the storm remained far enough offshore that only minor damage occurred on the island. On August 26, the extratropical remnants of Arlene impacted Spain, bringing 1.25 in (32 mm) to Rota, surpassing the highest rainfall for the month of August set in 1971. The remnant moisture from Arlene continued through the Mediterranean Sea and produced heavy rains across Italy on August 27.
