The third hurricane of this 12 months’s Atlantic hurricane season is “not a storm to be taken evenly”, a Bermuda minister has warned.
Hurricane Ernesto has battered the British island territory with robust winds, harmful storm surges and probably lethal flooding, leaving tens of 1000’s with out energy throughout Bermuda.
The Class 1 storm made landfall early Saturday, bringing most sustained winds of 140 km/h (87 mph) to Bermuda, house to about 64,000 individuals.
Energy firm BELCO stated the storm triggered virtually island-wide blackouts, with round 26,100 of its 36,000 prospects with out energy as of 9am native time (13:00 GMT).
Ernesto is predicted to slowly transfer away from Bermuda in the course of the day, in response to the Nationwide Hurricane Middle (NHC).
It’ll then transfer north-northeast on a monitor the place it should attain close to or east of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador on Monday night time, the NHC stated.
Ernesto had beforehand hit the northeastern Caribbean, leaving tons of of 1000’s of individuals in Puerto Rico with out energy and water after sweeping into the U.S. territory as a tropical storm.
Harmful surf and rip currents are additionally potential within the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and Atlantic Canada over the following few days, in response to the Nationwide Hurricane Middle.
August 17: #ernesto Touchdown in Bermuda at 430 AM IST. Bermuda is predicted to proceed to expertise robust winds, harmful storm surges and life-threatening flooding right now. For the most recent info, please go to https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ
Radar picture courtesy of Bermuda Elephant Authority pic.twitter.com/xAUVd4jaUr
— Nationwide Hurricane Middle (@NHC_Atlantic) August 17, 2024
Officers suspended public transportation and closed the airport Friday night time in preparation for the storm’s arrival in Bermuda.
“Hurricane Ernesto poses a severe menace to our communities,” stated Nationwide Safety Secretary Michael Weeks. “This isn’t a storm to be taken evenly.”
Energy firm BELCO stated excessive winds in Ernesto had knocked out energy to five,400 of Bermuda’s 36,000 prospects as of Friday afternoon. The corporate stated it had recalled upkeep employees from the location as a result of the work was too harmful.
In Puerto Rico, greater than 180,000 individuals are nonetheless with out energy greater than two days after the storm.
The Nationwide Climate Service issued one other extreme warmth warning, warning of “harmful sizzling and humid situations” and one other 170,000 individuals missing water.
“It is not simple,” Andres Cabrera, 60, who lives within the northern coastal metropolis of Carolina with out water or electrical energy, informed The Related Press.
Like many individuals in Puerto Rico, he cannot afford a generator or photo voltaic panels. Cabrera stated he relied on “the wind blowing from the road” to alleviate stress.
Within the neighboring U.S. Virgin Islands, crews are additionally working to revive energy, with energy now restored to 80% of consumers.
Ernesto is the fifth named storm and third hurricane of this 12 months’s Atlantic hurricane season.
The Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that this 12 months’s Atlantic hurricane season will likely be above common as a consequence of file heat ocean temperatures.
Between 17 and 25 named storms are anticipated, together with 4 to 7 main hurricanes.
