Hurricane Ernesto tracker: Latest forecast path after storm heads for East Coast, bringing possible 'life-threatening surf' conditions
The National Hurricane Center says the storm is slowing down but warned that the U.S. could see "dangerous beach conditions" until early next week.
Hurricane Ernesto made landfall in Bermuda on Saturday as a Category 1 storm. The Weather Channel reported that as of 5 a.m. ET on Sunday morning, half of Bermuda was without power due to storm-related damage.
The National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory that Ernesto's center is now moving away from Bermuda and toward the East Coast of the United States. It's expected to bring "dangerous beach conditions" and potentially "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions" to North Carolina and South Carolina, as well as the Bahamas and Bermuda, over the next couple of days, though it's not likely to make landfall in the U.S.
By Monday night, Ernesto is expected to pass near southeastern Newfoundland, Canada, forecasters said.
Where is the storm, exactly?
As of 5 a.m. ET, Ernesto was moving away from Bermuda.
Location: Around 690 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia
Maximum sustained winds: 70 mph
Present movement: North-northeast at 9 mph
What are the watches and warnings?
Life-threatening rip currents are possible along the East Coast of the United States, particularly in North Carolina and South Carolina, as Ernesto continues to churn in the Atlantic, per the Weather Channel. Beachgoers should use extreme caution.
As of Sunday morning, lifeguards in Wrightsville Beach, N.C., reported 23 rip current rescues. Meanwhile in Tybee Island, Ga., lifeguards reported at least four mild, ongoing rip currents in the area.
According to the National Weather Service, over 630,000 people were under high surf advisory with over 10.2 million residents currently living in rip current situations.
What are the biggest risks associated with Ernesto?
Strong winds, flooding and rip currents are some of the main concerns for the Bahamas, Bermuda, states along the East Coast of the U.S. as well as Newfoundland, Canada.
The hurricane center advises the swells generated by Ernesto may cause "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions" in these areas. The center of Ernesto is expected to pass near southeastern Newfoundland late Monday.
Thousands without power in Puerto Rico and Bermuda
Electricity and water have been restored to Puerto Rico in recent days, but more than 85,000 customers were still without power on Sunday morning, while around 100,000 customers were still without water, according to a Puerto Rico Emergency Portal System. President Biden has approved federal assistance requested by the governor of Puerto Rico.
Meanwhile, cruise lines like Carnival, Celebrity and Norwegian that had ships planning to travel to the northern Caribbean have reportedly adjusted their itineraries to avoid Ernesto.
The Weather Channel reported that "half of Bermuda is without power" as of 5 a.m. on Sunday morning.
What damage has Ernesto done?
Photos showing the damage caused by Ernesto's heavy rains and strong winds in Puerto Rico are starting to emerge:
This is an ongoing story; please refresh for the latest updates.
