Tropical Cyclone Ernesto has been upgraded to a Category 2 Hurricane by the US National Hurricane Center and is heading in the direction of Bermuda after moving through the Atlantic Ocean north of Puerto Rico.

Published 1 month ago

Hurricane Ernesto to Strengthen

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) upgraded Ernesto from a tropical storm once its maximum sustained winds reached 75 miles per hour and said it could become a major hurricane in the next couple of days and probably grow stronger as it approached Bermuda.

A hurricane warning has been issued for the British territory with forecasters expecting Ernesto to take three days to get there.   Ernesto strengthened into a hurricane Wednesday morning August 14 while moving north of Puerto Rico, as forecasters had predicted. By Thursday night it had strengthened to a category 2 storm as it moved towards Bermuda, expected arrival Saturday 17 August.

Swells likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions will spread toward Bermuda and the rest of the Bahamas as Ernesto heads north.

As it swept past the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, Ernesto deposited up to 10in (25cm) of rain in some places and disrupted power supplies.

Fifth Named Atlantic Storm for the 2024 Season

Ernesto is the fifth named Atlantic storm to occur this season.  Hurricane Beryl was the earliest Category 5 storm on record in the Atlantic when it swept through the Caribbean and the Texas Gulf Coast last month, killing dozens of people and leaving millions without electricity.

Earlier this year, US weather agency NOAA warned that the North Atlantic could get as many as seven major hurricanes of category-three strength or over this year, which would be more than double the usual number.

Ernesto’s Effects

Ernesto will have wide-reaching impacts despite remaining so far from large land masses.

Elevated wave heights created by the hurricane, potentially up to 40 feet high in the open Atlantic, will bring rough seas and dangerous rip currents to the US East Coast, the Bahamas and parts of the Caribbean into early next week.

The UK’s Met Office is forecasting Ernesto to bring unsettled weather including wind and rain to parts of the UK later next week.

It is expected Ernesto will pass close to Atlantic Canada early next week and potentially bring some rain, wind and rough seas.

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Related News:

• Hurricane Ernesto ramps up to Category 2 (CNN News)
• Maps Show Hurricane Ernesto’s Path as it Heads Toward Bermuda (CBS News)
• Hurricane Ernesto Heads for Bermuda (BBC News)
• Hurricane Beryl Aid (Noonsite)

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Related Links

• National Hurricane Center
• Noonsite Weather Resources

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