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Hurricane Ernesto strengthened into a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of 100 mph as it headed toward Bermuda.
The storm is expected to hit Bermuda early Saturday morning, the National Weather Service said. In addition to hurricane-force winds, Ernesto will bring up to nine inches of rain and explosive flooding to the island. The storm could also cause life-threatening rapids along the U.S. East Coast as it moves north over the weekend.
Bermuda’s National Security Minister Michael Weeks said on Friday that Bermuda “will endure hurricane and tropical storm force winds for at least 36 hours”, calling the storm a “significant risk to life and property”.
“Don’t get carried away, this storm is real,” Weeks said.
The NWS said the storm could weaken after passing Bermuda, but is expected to strengthen again. Ernesto then moves north and is likely to pass off the east coast of Newfoundland late Monday.
Since then, officials have closed government offices, public transportation and airports in preparation. Residents have also rushed to stores to stock up on supplies.
Bermuda resident Trina Graham told USA Today that her family prepared for the storm by covering their doors with heavy plastic and storing the gas cans that fuel their stove safely.
“We’ve locked everything down,” she told the outlet. “It’s very cloudy, but no serious winds yet. It’s the calm before the storm.”
Daisy Dohanos, an American vacationing in Bermuda, also told USA Today that she “learned quickly” about hurricane preparedness.
She plans to stay with a friend who has three rescue dogs.
“We’re just going to hunker down,” Dohanos told the outlet. “I just hope they’re not afraid. I heard they’re not afraid of the storm, so maybe they can calm me down.”
Meanwhile, about 300,000 energy customers in Puerto Rico are without power after Hurricane Ernesto struck the territory on Tuesday. Amid the outages, National Science An excessive heat warning has been issued for the area.
“It’s not easy,” said Andres Cabrere, 60, a Puerto Rican without running water or electricity. Yonhap News Agency.
Ernesto is the fifth named storm of the year, which is expected to be a “very active” Atlantic season. The surge is being driven by record-high ocean temperatures linked to the climate crisis.
Last year was the hottest on record, and 2024 is expected to break that record again.
