Hamilton, Bermuda: Hurricane Ernesto has weakened to a Category 1 storm as it approaches Bermuda early Saturday. Despite its downgrade, the storm continues to pose a significant threat to the British island territory with its powerful winds, hazardous storm surge, and potential for severe flooding.
The storm’s center is expected to pass near or over Bermuda on Saturday morning, with the most intense storm surge and flash flooding anticipated later in the day, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
As of 11 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time on Friday (0300 GMT Saturday), the storm’s eye was located approximately 65 miles (105 km) south-southwest of Bermuda. Rainbands from Ernesto began impacting the island on Friday afternoon. Due to its slow movement—traveling north-northeast at 13 mph (20 kph)—and its large size, Bermuda could face extended impacts throughout Saturday night.
Ernesto is producing maximum sustained winds of up to 90 mph (150 kph), placing it at the higher end of Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. These winds, while less severe than earlier when it was a Category 2 storm, are still capable of causing significant damage.
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The hurricane center noted that Ernesto, previously classified as a Category 2 storm with extremely dangerous winds, may continue to weaken over the next day but is expected to regain strength as it moves over the Gulf Stream.
Forecasts predict up to 9 inches (225 mm) of rainfall for Bermuda. Michael Weeks, Bermuda’s national security minister, emphasized the seriousness of the situation, urging residents to take the storm seriously. Emergency responders are positioned in key areas across the island, which consists of 181 small islands located over 600 miles (970 km) off the South Carolina coast.
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By Friday afternoon, Ernesto had already caused power outages for 5,400 of Bermuda’s 36,000 customers, according to the power utility BELCO. The company suspended repair work due to the hazardous conditions.
The effects of Ernesto are also being felt beyond Bermuda. Swells from the storm are impacting the Bahamas, parts of Bermuda, and the U.S. East Coast. In New York, city parks and the National Park Service have closed all beaches in Brooklyn and Queens for Saturday and Sunday due to predicted dangerous rip currents and swells up to 6 feet (2 meters), as warned by the National Weather Service.
