Hurricane Ernesto, a wide category 1 storm, made landfall in Bermuda early Saturday morning, prompting residents to take shelter. Bermuda, a small British overseas territory in the Atlantic, comprises 181 tiny islands with a total land area approximately the size of Manhattan.
The US National Hurricane Center warned Ernesto carrying maximum sustained winds reaching 85 mph (140 kph) and cautioned residents about the potential for powerful winds, a hazardous storm surge, and substantial coastal flooding.According to the hurricane center, Bermuda was expected to receive between 6 and 9 inches (150-225 millimeters) of rainfall from the storm. “This rainfall will likely result in considerable life-threatening flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas on the island,” it added.
The government said that Bermuda is bracing for a prolonged period of severe weather conditions as a result of the massive and slow-moving storm, the hurricane-strength winds are likely to persist until Saturday afternoon, while tropical storm-strength winds are expected to continue well into Sunday.
Ernesto’s expected to move towards the north-northeast at around 9 mph (15 kph) on a track that would take it near or east of Newfoundland on Monday night, the hurricane center said.
The east coast of the United States is experiencing dangerous surf and rip currents, as reported by the NHC. These hazardous conditions are expected to extend to Canada throughout the day. By Monday night, Ernesto is predicted to be in close proximity to or east of Newfoundland.
BELCO, Bermuda’s power utility company, has reported that as of late Friday, 31% of its customers were without power. The company has described its current situation as being in “an active state of crisis.”
“Our crews are no longer out in the field working as it is no longer safe for them. They will now rest until it is deemed safe for them to begin restoration efforts,” BELCO said.
As the storm approached, Bermudian authorities took precautionary measures on Friday evening, halting public transit services and shutting down the airport. “Hurricane Ernesto seriously threatens our community,” National Security Minister Michael Weeks said, adding that “This is not a storm to be taken lightly.”
According to AccuWeather, since 1850, only 11 out of 130 tropical storms that came within 100 miles (160 kilometers) of the island made landfall, making the eye of a hurricane reaching the island an uncommon occurrence.
Before reaching Bermuda, Ernesto had already left its mark on the northeast Caribbean, particularly in Puerto Rico, where it passed as a tropical storm. The storm left hundreds of thousands of people without power or water, with more than 180,000 out of nearly 1.5 million clients still experiencing power outages more than two days after the storm.
Additionally, around 170,000 people were without water, prompting the National Weather Service to issue another severe heat advisory, cautioning residents of “dangerously hot and humid conditions.”
Ernesto is the fifth named storm and the third hurricane of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season.
(With inputs from agencies)
The US National Hurricane Center warned Ernesto carrying maximum sustained winds reaching 85 mph (140 kph) and cautioned residents about the potential for powerful winds, a hazardous storm surge, and substantial coastal flooding.According to the hurricane center, Bermuda was expected to receive between 6 and 9 inches (150-225 millimeters) of rainfall from the storm. “This rainfall will likely result in considerable life-threatening flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas on the island,” it added.
The government said that Bermuda is bracing for a prolonged period of severe weather conditions as a result of the massive and slow-moving storm, the hurricane-strength winds are likely to persist until Saturday afternoon, while tropical storm-strength winds are expected to continue well into Sunday.
Ernesto’s expected to move towards the north-northeast at around 9 mph (15 kph) on a track that would take it near or east of Newfoundland on Monday night, the hurricane center said.
The east coast of the United States is experiencing dangerous surf and rip currents, as reported by the NHC. These hazardous conditions are expected to extend to Canada throughout the day. By Monday night, Ernesto is predicted to be in close proximity to or east of Newfoundland.
BELCO, Bermuda’s power utility company, has reported that as of late Friday, 31% of its customers were without power. The company has described its current situation as being in “an active state of crisis.”
“Our crews are no longer out in the field working as it is no longer safe for them. They will now rest until it is deemed safe for them to begin restoration efforts,” BELCO said.
As the storm approached, Bermudian authorities took precautionary measures on Friday evening, halting public transit services and shutting down the airport. “Hurricane Ernesto seriously threatens our community,” National Security Minister Michael Weeks said, adding that “This is not a storm to be taken lightly.”
According to AccuWeather, since 1850, only 11 out of 130 tropical storms that came within 100 miles (160 kilometers) of the island made landfall, making the eye of a hurricane reaching the island an uncommon occurrence.
Before reaching Bermuda, Ernesto had already left its mark on the northeast Caribbean, particularly in Puerto Rico, where it passed as a tropical storm. The storm left hundreds of thousands of people without power or water, with more than 180,000 out of nearly 1.5 million clients still experiencing power outages more than two days after the storm.
Additionally, around 170,000 people were without water, prompting the National Weather Service to issue another severe heat advisory, cautioning residents of “dangerously hot and humid conditions.”
Ernesto is the fifth named storm and the third hurricane of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season.
(With inputs from agencies)
