Hurricane Ernesto Grows Stronger; Bermuda Prepares for ‘Nature’s Fury’
After hitting Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands hard, Hurricane Ernesto is making its way through the western Atlantic towards Bermuda, with indications that it could become a major hurricane before arriving at the British territory.
Currently classified as a Category 1 hurricane, Ernesto is situated 570 miles south-southwest of Bermuda and has sustained winds of 85 mph, as reported by the National Hurricane Center at 11 a.m. The storm is moving at a speed of 14 mph, expected to start bringing heavy rainfall to Bermuda by Friday, before potentially passing close to or directly over the islands on Saturday.
“Efforts to safeguard lives and property should be accelerated,” the hurricane center advised, cautioning that certain regions in Bermuda might experience up to a foot of rainfall, which could lead to “significant life-threatening flash floods.” Meteorologists predict Ernesto may reach major hurricane status, with wind speeds of at least 111 mph, as soon as Friday.
Meanwhile, residents and officials in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are dealing with the aftermath of the heavy rainfall they experienced on Wednesday. At its peak, around half of Puerto Rico’s utility customers—approximately 730,000—were without power. By Thursday morning, just over 445,000 homes and businesses remained in darkness, according to the LUMA Energy website.
Flood warnings persist across Puerto Rico, with rivers overflowing and threatening to inundate neighborhoods and low-lying regions. In the last 48 hours, both the U.S. and British Virgin Islands recorded around half a foot of rain, and certain parts of southeastern Puerto Rico saw totals climb to 10 inches.
Latest Updates:
∎ Dangerous surf and rip current conditions are likely to arise as swells move towards Bermuda and the rest of the Bahamas on Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center. These swells are expected to reach the eastern coast of the U.S. by Thursday night and persist throughout the weekend.
∎ A heat advisory is currently in effect across northern Puerto Rico due to high humidity and temperatures impacting the area, exacerbating the situation for the hundreds of thousands without electricity. “A period of dangerously hot and humid conditions are anticipated,” the weather service in San Juan warned Thursday.
∎ As Ernesto makes its way through the Atlantic, disruptions to cruise lines are ongoing. This week, multiple Carnival and Norwegian cruises have altered their routes due to the intensifying storm, with some opting to skip stops in Puerto Rico or avoid the eastern Caribbean altogether.
Bermuda Resident Prepares, Remains Calm as Ernesto Approaches
Jason Lawrence dedicated Wednesday to preparing for Hurricane Ernesto. A lifelong resident of Bermuda, he removed four of his boats from the water and secured them, brought his outdoor furniture inside, and boarded up his windows with plywood.
The 38-year-old also assisted his family in safeguarding their homes. At his grocery store, M. Soares & Sons, located in the Spanish Point area, he unloaded water, bread, batteries, and canned goods on Thursday.
“I feel like most people are securing their homes today,” he remarked. “This afternoon and tomorrow will be very busy for us in the grocery stores.”
Lawrence intends to ride out the storm at his home on the north shore, just a few feet from the ocean, alongside his wife and two young boys, ages 1 and 6.
“We only start to worry if it reaches Category 3,” he stated. “The buildings here are built differently compared to those in the States. They can withstand storms well, so once you’re prepared, you’re generally okay.”
Bermuda Prepares for ‘Nature’s Fury’
Bermuda’s Minister of National Security, Michael Weeks, cautioned residents and visitors during a news conference on Wednesday that they should begin preparations without delay for Hurricane Ernesto’s arrival.
Weeks emphasized that the storm will bring dangerous weather such as heavy rain, high storm surge, and strong winds that are likely to cause widespread power outages across the island.
“While Bermuda has been fortunate recently to avoid significant hurricane damage, we must take every storm seriously and prepare appropriately,” he remarked. “It only takes one storm to inflict severe damage and disrupt our lives.”
He urged residents to secure their property, which includes tying down outdoor furniture and boats, and advised them to stock up on food, medications, and batteries. Weeks also mentioned that officials would meet on Thursday to discuss operations for the island’s main causeway, airport, and public transport services.
“Don’t assume you can wait until the last second – the opportunity to prepare is diminishing quickly,” he advised. “This is not the time to underestimate the power of nature.”
Recovery
Operations Ongoing in the U.S. Virgin Islands
While efforts to restore power continued throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands, officials announced on Wednesday night that government offices would reopen, but public schools would remain closed “for ongoing cleanup and safety evaluations.”
Restoration crews made significant progress after the storm led to a complete power outage on St. Croix and widespread outages on St. John. Karl Knight, CEO of the U.S. Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, mentioned that 75% of customers on St. Croix were anticipated to have electricity back by Wednesday night. Repairs were still needed on St. John, but they were expected to be completed soon.
“Today was quite successful – we got off to a slow start but gained momentum as the night progressed,” he stated.
Additionally, the airports on St. Croix and St. Thomas reopened at noon on Wednesday, although some delays were still occurring. On Thursday, officials are expected to finish evaluating the ports across the U.S. Virgin Islands to allow ferry and barge services to resume.
Dangerous Rip Currents and Life-Threatening Surf Predicted on the East Coast
While Tropical Storm Ernesto is expected to remain far from the U.S. mainland, officials have warned about an increased risk of life-threatening surf and rip currents along East Coast beaches as the storm moves toward Bermuda.
The storm’s swells are anticipated to reach the region later this week and into the weekend, as noted by the National Hurricane Center.
“Beachgoers should be aware of heightened risks of dangerous surf and rip currents and should stay out of the water if lifeguards advise against it,” the hurricane center cautioned. “Rip currents and surf conditions are also possible in the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas in the coming days.”
Current Location of Hurricane Ernesto
Hurricane Season Reaches Its Peak Soon
A revised forecast released earlier this month indicated that a “highly active” hurricane season in the Atlantic is likely to persist.
“The atmospheric and ocean conditions have created a situation that could lead to an exceptionally busy hurricane season, potentially among the busiest ever recorded,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) stated in its report.
NOAA predicts that there will be 17 to 24 named storms, with approximately 8 to 13 of them reaching hurricane strength. This forecast exceeds the average of 14 named storms and seven hurricanes. These figures include four storms that have already formed this year, notably the severe Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Debby.
Residents and officials across the eastern U.S. are still dealing with the aftermath of Debby, which caused severe flooding in western New York and Pennsylvania. Last month, Beryl made history by becoming the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, wreaking havoc in parts of the Caribbean and at one point leaving over 1.3 million homes and businesses in Texas without power.
“The hurricane season began with an early and violent onset, highlighted by Hurricane Beryl, the earliest category-5 Atlantic hurricane on record,” remarked NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad. “The updated seasonal outlook serves as an important reminder that the peak of hurricane season is approaching, which has historically been a time of significant impact from hurricanes and tropical storms.”