By: Staff Writer
August 16, 2024
Hurricane Ernesto is on its way to Bermuda after lashing Puerto Rico with 85 mph winds and ha a trajectory to head all the way up to the Canadian Atlantic.
In its latest advisory, the National Hurricane Centre said Ernesto was located about 495 miles south-southwest of Bermuda. With maximum sustained winds of 85 mph and a minimum central pressure of 972 mb, the storm is prompting new warnings.
The hurricane left as many as 730,000 people on Puerto Rico without power during at least a portion of Wednesday. Blackouts were down to 649,000 as of 8 p.m. ET, approximately 44 percent of homes and businesses, according to LUMA Energy, the operator of Puerto Rico’s power grid.
Parts of Puerto Rico saw over 9 inches of rain in 24 hours as of Wednesday night, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Two of the three U.S. Virgin Islands – St. John and St. Croix – were completely in the dark Wednesday and six cell towers were knocked offline, according to territory officials.
A hurricane warning has been issued for Bermuda, which means hurricane conditions are expected soon. According to the NHC, preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion under these circumstances.
Current status: Hurricane Ernesto is centered less than 500 miles south-southwest of Bermuda and is moving north.
It has held steady at Category 1 wind intensity since first becoming a hurricane early Wednesday, battling with dry air it wrapped into its center.
However, Ernesto’s scope of hurricane-force winds is gradually growing, now extending up to 60 miles from its centre.
Tropical storm force winds are expected to arrive in Bermuda Friday afternoon. Given that, all preparations should be completed before these deteriorating conditions arrive.
Ernesto’s center is forecast to pass close enough to Bermuda to bring hurricane conditions Saturday. Ernesto will also temporarily slow its forward speed as it approaches Bermuda, meaning its impacts are likely to last through Saturday night, possibly into Sunday morning before it leaves.
High winds, flooding rain, storm surge and battering waves can be expected in the archipelago. Widespread rainfall totals up to 12 inches with isolated amounts up to 15 inches are possible through early Sunday, according to the NHC.
This will be the closest hurricane strike Bermuda has experienced in almost four years, since Paulette did so in Sept. 2021.
