Ernesto was downgraded to a tropical storm on Saturday after lashing Bermuda with torrential rains and strong winds, knocking out power to much of the British Atlantic territory before continuing its path toward eastern Canada.
The cyclone, which hit Puerto Rico earlier this week, will “move away from Bermuda” by Saturday night, but will continue to create strong tropical storm conditions on Saturday afternoon, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in a new report.
He warned that the storm is likely to intensify on Sunday and “could regain hurricane status.”
Ernesto made landfall in Bermuda at 08:30 GMT with maximum winds of 137 kilometers per hour, according to the agency.
“As Ernesto moves northeast, occasional showers from the west will continue to fall across the islands,” the Bermuda Weather Service said Saturday night, warning that sea conditions would remain dangerous.
Bermuda is expected to see “drier and brighter weather” on Sunday as Ernesto moves northeast and passes near Newfoundland, Canada, late Monday, officials said.
The storm was located about 160 kilometres northeast of the archipelago around midnight local time. It is expected to dump between 175 and 225 millimetres of rain on Bermuda.
“These precipitations are likely to cause life-threatening flash flooding for island residents, especially in low-lying areas,” the NHC said.
The Belco electricity company reported that the natural formation has left 18,300 of its customers in Bermuda without electricity, or more than 50% of its users in the archipelago of 64,000 inhabitants.
Images on social media showed fallen trees blocking roads, power lines damaged by high winds and flooded roads. Bermuda’s LF Wade International Airport announced it would remain closed until Sunday.
As a precautionary measure, residents covered the windows of their homes and stocked up on food.
“There are a lot of downed cables and foliage so the situation could be dangerous,” National Security Minister Michael Weeks said, according to The Royal Gazette.
Some roads were closed and bus and ferry services were suspended, the paper added.
The NHC said hazardous conditions are expected on beaches along the U.S. East Coast during the next few days.
This week, Ernesto brought heavy rains to Puerto Rico, leaving 600,000 people without electricity.
According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this year’s Atlantic hurricane season – which runs from June to November – is expected to be hectic as rising ocean temperatures increase the intensity of hurricanes.
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THE NATION
