On Wednesday, Hurricane Ernesto strengthened into a Category 1 storm as it passed just north of Puerto Rico, bringing heavy rains and strong winds that led to flash flood warnings and left about half of the island without electricity.

As of 11 a.m. ET, Ernesto was situated 175 miles northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, with winds reaching 75 mph, as per the National Hurricane Center’s report.

The storm heavily impacted Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands throughout the morning, quickly dropping several inches of rain across the region. The National Weather Service in San Juan issued warnings about potential “life-threatening flash flooding.” Overall, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands could experience widespread rainfall of up to 6 inches, while southeastern Puerto Rico might see totals rising to 8 to 10 inches.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden granted an emergency declaration for Puerto Rico, allowing federal assistance for local response actions. In anticipation of the storm, Puerto Rican officials closed government facilities, suspended classes, activated the National Guard, and opened numerous shelters.

Forecasters predict that Ernesto will move northward away from Puerto Rico on Wednesday, continuing its journey along the Atlantic toward Bermuda over the next few days, with expectations of strengthening into a major hurricane while remaining well offshore from the continental U.S.

Power Outages Affected Over Half a Million in Puerto Rico

More than 720,000 customers across Puerto Rico, approximately half of the total utility users in the territory, were without electricity after Ernesto delivered tropical storm-force winds and heavy rainfall.

Caguas, a significant city in east-central Puerto Rico, experienced the highest number of outages with 168,000 reported by 1 p.m. ET Wednesday, according to Luma Energy, which operates Puerto Rico’s power grid. Out of Luma’s 1.47 million customers, it was reported that 49% were without power at that time.

The city of Ponce, located on the southern coast, recorded nearly 151,000 outages, while the capital, San Juan, had 43,000 outages, affecting 17% of its clients — a significantly lower figure compared to the other regions that reported outages, with three regions experiencing outages in the vicinity of 70%.

Luma noted that it had coordinated efforts with emergency contractors throughout Puerto Rico to address the outages. Power disruptions have been a frequent issue for the island’s more than 3 million residents since Hurricane Maria devastated its electrical infrastructure in 2017.

Ernesto Causes Power Losses in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Both St. John and St. Croix, two of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, were left completely powerless on Wednesday, as officials worked to restore electricity following the impact of Ernesto.

Daryl Jaschen, director of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, reported in a press conference that in addition to the power outages, six cell towers had gone offline across the territory.

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. informed during the same briefing that while “the territory is in good shape,” residents and visitors were advised to stay indoors as rainbands continued to affect the islands.

“There are numerous branches on the roads, and water flow from hills is significant across all three islands – plus sporadic flooding is occurring,” he stated.

Severe Winds and Flooding Affect Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

As Hurricane Ernesto battered Puerto Rico early Wednesday morning, flash flood warnings were issued, and the national hurricane center noted damaging wind gusts.

By 7 a.m., parts of eastern Puerto Rico had received between 2 and 6 inches of rain, with an additional 2 to 3 inches expected. The San Juan weather service warned that “flash flooding is either happening or expected to start soon.”

As rainfall accumulates, the Rio Grande de Loiza and its tributaries “are continuing to rise, heightening the flooding risk,” the weather service indicated, mentioning that overflowing rivers were likely.

Meanwhile, St. John and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands reported receiving between 3 and 5 inches of rain by Wednesday morning, prompting warnings from the weather service about the risk of “life-threatening flash flooding in creeks, streams, urban areas, highways, streets, and underpasses.”

The National Weather Service office in San Juan recorded an 86 mph wind gust in Culebra, a small island off Puerto Rico’s eastern coast. A gust of 74 mph was observed in Ceiba, located in northeastern Puerto Rico. Winds measuring up to 75 mph were reported across the Virgin Islands, according to the weather service.

Residents in Bermuda Prepare as If in COVID Times

In Bermuda, Jessica Burns stated

On Wednesday morning, she woke up to heavy rain and is bracing for even harsher weather this weekend, as Hurricane Ernesto is predicted to make landfall as a Category 2 storm, as per the Bermuda Weather Service.

At 29 years old, Burns, who spent her entire life on the island, is managing her family’s vacation rental business for the first time after her mother passed away in November 2023.

To mitigate risks, Burns, her neighbors, and staff worked together to trim loose branches and remove coconuts from the trees. “We want to ensure that nothing comes loose to cause any damage,” she mentioned.

Additionally, Burns stocked up on food, water, and batteries. “We’re all rushing to the grocery store, acting as if it’s another COVID situation,” she remarked.

This week, some vacationers at Burns’ Southern Views Property Rentals decided to leave early to escape the approaching storm, while others are “hunkering down” and were given a complimentary extra night to stay safe and dry, she shared.

− Claire Thornton

Could Ernesto affect the mainland US?

Although Ernesto is not forecasted to make landfall on the mainland U.S., officials have warned about potentially hazardous beach conditions — including rip currents and rough surf — along the Atlantic coast as the storm approaches Bermuda.

On Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard advised recreational boaters, fishermen, beachgoers, and water sports fans in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to stay out of the ocean “due to worsening sea conditions and dangerous rip currents caused by Tropical Storm Ernesto.”

Forecasters indicated that strong swells could reach North Carolina’s shores by Friday, advising beachgoers to stay vigilant regarding the risks and hazards.

According to AccuWeather’s Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva, “The storm might be hundreds of miles away, and the weather might seem great at beaches from Florida to New England, but everyone must remain cautious about potential beach hazards. We expect the risk of rip currents to increase later this week along the Southeast and grow throughout the weekend, spreading northward.”

Ernesto is the fifth named storm of the 2024 hurricane season

A revised forecast from earlier this month predicted an “extremely active” Atlantic hurricane season, which could be among the busiest on record. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expected 17 to 24 named storms, with about 8 to 13 likely becoming hurricanes, surpassing the average of 14 named storms and seven hurricanes.

NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad stated that the season commenced “early and violently,” with Hurricane Beryl marking the earliest recorded Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic. He emphasized that the agency’s update indicates that the peak of the hurricane season is approaching, typically bringing the most significant storms and hurricanes.

NOAA estimates a 90% probability of a more active season, the highest likelihood ever reported by the agency, as shared by lead seasonal hurricane forecaster Matthew Rosencrans to YSL News.

Ernesto follows the deadly Hurricane Debby

Ernesto formed in the Atlantic as residents and officials on the eastern U.S. began to recover from the impacts of former tropical storm Debby.

Debby made landfall last week in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 1 hurricane, and the remnants caused significant flooding across a large area of the Eastern Seaboard, submerging entire neighborhoods while rescue efforts were underway. At least eight fatalities have been linked to that storm.

In July, Hurricane Beryl struck the Caribbean as a powerful hurricane before hitting Texas, causing widespread power outages and several fatal heatstroke cases. Beryl has been associated with over 20 deaths across the U.S. and the Caribbean.