Hurricane Ernesto has moved away from Puerto Rico after bringing heavy rainfall and is now heading towards Bermuda.
Overnight, Ernesto intensified, and its winds have reached 85 mph. Meteorologists expect it to intensify further over open water and could approach major hurricane strength by Friday, with the storm center potentially near Bermuda on Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
A major hurricane is classified as a storm with sustained winds of at least 111 mph, making it a Category 3 or higher. AccuWeather forecasts that Ernesto will likely be a Category 3 storm by Friday as it nears Bermuda.
Currently positioned east of the southern tip of Florida, Ernesto is expected to remain far offshore while moving northward. However, the eastern coast of the U.S., including Florida, may still experience some effects from the storm. Swells caused by the hurricane are anticipated to impact the area starting Thursday night and continuing into the weekend, posing a “high risk of dangerous rip currents,” as per the Hurricane Center’s warnings.
The emergence of Ernesto comes shortly after Hurricane Debby made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend on August 5.
In an update on August 14, the National Hurricane Center introduced its new “cone of concern” specifically for Hurricane Ernesto. This new model provides additional information, including wind warnings for inland regions, not just coastal areas. The changes allow for a unified view of the storm threat.
Ernesto’s current location is approximately 495 miles south-southwest of Bermuda, moving north at 13 mph with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph. The pressure recorded is 972 mb.
As for warnings, no alerts related to Hurricane Ernesto are in effect for Florida, but a hurricane warning has been issued for Bermuda, indicating that hurricane conditions are expected in the area. Preparations for potential danger should be completed as the storm approaches.
The forecast suggests that Ernesto will likely be near Bermuda late Friday into Saturday, bringing strong winds and the possibility of a storm surge. The expected rainfall in Bermuda could reach 6 to 12 inches, with isolated areas receiving up to 15 inches, leading to flash flooding.
Swells produced by Ernesto will also affect the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas, spreading towards the U.S. east coast through the weekend, which may result in life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
The National Hurricane Center is also monitoring two tropical waves, one moving west in the eastern Atlantic and another in the central Atlantic, which could also develop into storms.
Residents along the U.S. East Coast are urged to prepare and keep abreast of weather updates, as the hurricane season is expected to be very active this year. The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30, with peak activity typically occurring around September 10.