Janice R. Andrews
Hurricane Ernesto, which has been reduced to a Category 1 hurricane, is still a serious danger to Bermuda as it gets closer to the British island nation. As the storm weakens, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) warns that it still has the ability to produce strong winds, a severe storm surge, and potentially fatal floods.
Hurricane Ernesto’s Current Situation
Around 65 miles (105 km) south-southwest of Bermuda was where Hurricane Ernesto’s eye was situated around 11 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time on Friday (0300 GMT on Saturday). The storm is traveling 13 mph (20 kph) north-northeast as it approaches the Atlantic archipelago gradually. The storm’s core is predicted to pass close to or over Bermuda on Saturday morning, prompting the NHC to issue a warning that the island may be hit hard and for an extended period of time.
Dangers from Wind and Storm Surges
With gusts as high as 90 mph (150 kph), storm Ernesto is now a Category 1 storm, the strongest kind according to the Saffir-Simpson hurricane index. Ernesto’s winds are still quite hazardous and have the potential to wreak a great deal of damage, even though it has been downgraded from its prior rating of Category 2.
At a news conference on Friday, Bermuda’s national security minister, Michael Weeks, stressed the gravity of the situation by saying, “People, be under no illusions. This storm is really serious.” In anticipation of the storm, emergency personnel have been placed in key locations around Bermuda.
Rainfall and Concerns About Flooding
Hurricane Ernesto’s rainbands started soaking Bermuda on Friday afternoon, and up to nine inches (225 mm) of rain are predicted to fall there. Large-scale flash floods and prolonged periods of heavy rain are possible because of the storm’s sluggish progress. This is especially likely to happen on Saturday night.
Additionally, the NHC has issued a warning about a storm surge that may be deadly and cause coastal flooding in regions that are susceptible. Bermuda residents are advised to take all required safety measures to safeguard their belongings and themselves.
Coastal Impacts and Power Outages
According to BELCO, Bermuda’s electricity company, by Friday afternoon, some 5,400 of the island’s 36,000 customers were without power as a result of Ernesto’s high winds. BELCO had to pull its repair teams from the field because to the dangerous conditions, which caused a delay in the restoration of electricity.
Hurricane Ernesto’s impacts extend beyond Bermuda. The storm’s waves are having an effect on the US east coast and certain areas of the Bahamas. Due to the anticipated catastrophic rip currents and seas of up to 6 feet (2 meters), local parks and the National Park Service in New York announced the closure of all beaches in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens on Saturday and Sunday.
Prognosis and Safety Measures
Although Hurricane Ernesto is predicted to continue to diminish over the course of the next day or so, the NHC has warned that once it passes over the Gulf Stream, it may strengthen again. Bermuda residents, as well as those in other impacted locations, should exercise caution and heed any warnings or cautions that local authorities may issue.
Hurricane Ernesto is a reminder of the unpredictability of storms and the value of being prepared for natural catastrophes of this kind as it approaches.
