Janice R. Andrews
As Tropical Storm Ernesto gets closer to hurricane classification, it becomes a major threat to the northeastern Caribbean. It is intensifying quickly. The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) issued an alert early on Wednesday morning stating that Ernesto is expected to build further and might become a major hurricane within days, as officials throughout Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands prepare for its arrival.
Ernesto was located 40 miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and 80 miles northwest of St. Thomas at two in the morning, Atlantic Standard Time. It is anticipated that the storm’s centre will move close to Puerto Rico’s northeastern shore on Wednesday morning. After that, Ernesto is probably going to go towards the western Atlantic, eventually aiming for Bermuda on Friday.
Quickening in Power as Ernesto Draws Near
Ernesto is expected to grow further and might become a major hurricane by the end of the week, according to projections made by the National Hurricane Centre. With gusts reaching tropical storm status and sustained speeds of about 65 mph, the storm is now quite strong. As the storm moves closer to the Atlantic’s more favourable conditions, these winds should get stronger.
The deputy director of the NHC, Jamie Rhome, advised those living in the impacted areas—especially those under hurricane watches—to get ready for the likelihood of hazardous weather. Rhome stated in a live broadcast, “If you’re in those areas, you need to go ahead and get prepared for the potential of hurricane conditions.”
High Alert for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
As Ernesto approaches, residents in Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are at serious risk. Hurricane watches have been issued for the islands due to the likelihood of major flooding and mudslides, along with heavy rainfall and high gusts.
The United States and the British Virgin Islands should experience 4 to 6 inches of rain from the storm, with 6 to 8 inches forecast in southeast Puerto Rico. These downpours create fears for landslides because of Puerto Rico’s rugged geography, especially in regions that are already saturated from previous rainfall.
Tuesday saw the governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi, take strong action. He called off the start of classes in public schools and ordered the National Guard to help with storm preparations. Emergency services are available, and hundreds of shelters have been opened around the island. Governor Albert Bryan Jr. of the U.S. Virgin Islands stressed the severity of the storm and urged locals to take the appropriate safety measures.
There Is Great Fear of Power Outages
Puerto Rico, which has a delicate electrical infrastructure and has seen several difficulties lately, is once more getting ready for possible, extensive blackouts. The primary electricity supplier on the island, LUMA electricity, has dispatched emergency personnel and is alerting locals to expect service disruptions during Ernesto’s impact.
The electricity infrastructure on the island is still in danger since it has taken a long time to rebuild after Hurricanes Maria in 2017 and Fiona in 2022 devastated it. A large portion of the grid was devastated by Category 5 storm Maria, which prevented many households from having energy for over a year. Power outages have continued to be a problem even in the years that have passed.
Although $1 billion was allocated by Congress in December 2022 to assist in stabilising and rebuilding the grid, there is increasing worry that Ernesto may strike Puerto Rico’s already vulnerable infrastructure once more.
An Increase in Travel Delays and Cancellations
Because to Ernesto’s approach, air transport to and from Puerto Rico has been significantly impacted. The main airport in Puerto Rico, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, has already recorded a large number of cancelled flights. On Tuesday alone, 32 planes were cancelled outbound and 38 inbound. As the storm gets closer, more people are anticipated to join.
There will likely be further travel delays this week, so travellers are advised by several airlines to keep a careful eye on their flight statuses. Aside from fisherman, beachgoers, and recreational boaters, the U.S. Coast Guard has also issued advisories to these groups, advising them to avoid the ocean due to severe rip currents and rapidly deteriorating sea conditions.
Ernesto’s Journey and Possible Effects Outside the Caribbean
Although Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands will be the main areas affected by Ernesto, the storm’s repercussions could not stop there. The storm is predicted to produce significant swells as it moves towards Bermuda, which may cause hazardous surf conditions and rip currents throughout the Atlantic coast of the United States. As of Friday, states ranging from Florida to North Carolina are already on high alert for potentially dangerous beach conditions.
North Carolina meteorologist Erik Heden issued a warning, citing the possibility of heavy surf and rip currents creating hazardous conditions throughout the state’s beaches, especially with this weekend’s predicted higher-than-normal tides. “The impacts may linger into early next week as Ernesto moves away,” Heden stated. He continued by saying that rip currents are extremely dangerous since they may drag swimmers out to sea, especially for gullible beachgoers.
The Reasons Ernesto Won’t Aim for the US Mainland
Ernesto is not anticipated to make landfall on the US mainland, even though it has the capacity to strengthen into a powerful hurricane. The storm is expected to turn towards the sea, according to forecasters, owing to the influence of the Bermuda High, a high pressure ridge that frequently directs hurricanes away from the eastern United States.
Large-scale weather systems, such the Bermuda High, usually steer most Atlantic hurricanes and tropical storms into the open Atlantic, away from the U.S. mainland. Ernesto’s path towards the north in this instance will keep it far from the East Coast, limiting its effects to coastal waters and beach conditions.
Even yet, there is still a considerable risk of rip currents and choppy waves, particularly for beachgoers who might not be aware of the risks an offshore storm poses. The public is being urged by authorities to pay attention to warnings and stay out of the water when there is a red flag.
Hurricane Season Has Begun
Ernesto marks an active phase in the 2017 hurricane season as the second named storm in the Atlantic in less than a week. The storm comes soon after Hurricane Debby, which in early August produced extensive flooding over Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania. Before that, in July, storm Beryl made history as the earliest-ever Category 5 storm and devastated Texas as well as the Caribbean.
Residents in the Atlantic basin are being advised to remain watchful and ready for further possible storms in the upcoming weeks as hurricane season draws to a close.
Ernesto’s Impact: Getting Ready
Authorities in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are advising citizens to finish their storm preparations and follow evacuation instructions if necessary, as Ernesto is expected to intensify into a hurricane. Because of the potential for Ernesto to develop into a major hurricane, the National Hurricane Centre has stressed the need of treating this storm seriously.
The storm’s effects will be continuously tracked as it passes across the Caribbean and beyond, with updates from meteorologists and emergency management representatives giving people in its path vital information.
