Hurricane Ernesto, downgraded to a Category 1 storm, is closing in on Bermuda early Saturday, bringing with it powerful winds, a dangerous storm surge, and the potential for deadly flooding. The storm is slowly making its way towards the Atlantic archipelago, with its center expected to pass near or over Bermuda on Saturday morning. The worst of the storm surge and flash flood potential is 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 on Saturday), the eye of the storm was located 65 miles (105 km) south-southwest of Bermuda. Rainbands from the storm began drenching the island territory on Friday afternoon. The hurricane center notes that the storm’s slow speed – moving north-northeast at 13 mph (20 kph) – and its large size mean that Bermuda could experience a prolonged pummeling on Saturday night.
The hurricane center reported that Ernesto produced maximum sustained winds of up to 90 mph (150 kph), placing it at the high end of Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. While these winds are still very dangerous and capable of causing damage, they are less intense than the extremely dangerous winds associated with Category 2 storms, which Ernesto was classified as on Friday.
Although the storm is expected to continue weakening over the next day or so, it is forecast to strengthen again over the Gulf Stream. The hurricane center predicts that rainfall on Bermuda could reach up to 9 inches (225 mm).
“Folks, be under no illusion. This storm is the real deal,” said Michael Weeks, Bermuda’s national security minister, at a press conference on Friday. Weeks assured the public that emergency responders would be stationed at strategic locations throughout Bermuda, a collection of 181 small islands situated more than 600 miles (970 km) off the South Carolina coast.
By Friday afternoon, Ernesto’s winds had knocked out power for 5,400 of Bermuda’s 36,000 customers, according to the power utility BELCO. The company has pulled its repair crews back from the field due to safety concerns.
The hurricane center reported that swells generated by Ernesto are already affecting parts of Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the east coast of the United States. In New York, the city parks and the National Park Service have announced that all beaches in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens will be closed to swimmers on Saturday and Sunday due to dangerous rip currents and swells of up to 6 feet (2 meters), according to the mayor’s office.
