Tropical Storm Ernesto strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday (14) as it moved away from the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, leaving more torrential rain in its wake and cutting power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses.
Ernesto was about 175 miles (280 km) northwest of the Puerto Rican capital of San Juan as it tracked northwest, packing winds of about 75 mph (120 km) per hour, the National Hurricane Center said in a warning Wednesday (14).
“The official forecast still reflects the possibility of Ernesto becoming a major hurricane within about 48 hours,” the center said.
A storm is considered a hurricane when its winds reach 74 mph (119 km/h). A major hurricane—Category 3 or higher—has a sustained wind speed of at least 110 mph (179 km/h).
Ernesto – the fifth named Atlantic storm of the season – is expected to approach the British island territory of Bermuda, about 680 miles (1,093 km) east of North Carolina, through Saturday (17), with rain starting on Thursday (15), the NHC said.
More than 500,000 homes and businesses were without power on Wednesday (14) in Puerto Rico, according to LUMA Energy, which supplies electricity to the US island territory.
“We will conduct field inspections as soon as it is safe for our teams to go into the field to identify damage and begin repairs,” LUMA said in a statement. The company said it would prioritize restoring power to essential services such as hospitals and water and wastewater facilities.
More flood-producing rain fell on the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, the hurricane center said, warning that waters were covering some streets and causing mudslides.
“I urge you to stay safe in your homes, have emergency numbers handy and follow the recommendations of official authorities. Everyone’s safety is a priority,” Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi said on X.
Schools in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands were closed on Wednesday (14), as were many government offices. Airports in the Virgin Islands, east and southeast of Puerto Rico, were scheduled to reopen at 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday (14).
The Virgin Islands could receive up to 6 inches (15.2 cm) of rain, while 10 inches (25.4 cm) of rain was forecast for southeastern Puerto Rico. The Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra were under a tropical storm warning, the hurricane center said.
Ernesto is the second Atlantic storm in a week during this year’s intense hurricane season. Debby made landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 1 hurricane last week before drenching parts of the Carolinas with up to 2 feet (0.6 meters) of rain.
Hurricane Beryl, the first of the season, was the first Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic when it swept through the Caribbean and the U.S. Gulf Coast last month, killing dozens of people and costing an estimated $6 billion in damage.
Source: CNN Brasil
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