Hurricane Ernesto Strengthens as it Heads Towards Bermuda
As Hurricane Ernesto barrels towards the Caribbean island of Bermuda, residents are bracing for impact after the storm left a trail of destruction in Puerto Rico. The powerful storm, which has already left more than half of homes and businesses without power in Puerto Rico, is expected to make landfall in Bermuda on Friday.
Puerto Rico’s main power supplier, Luma Energy, reported that around 410,000 customers were without electricity by midday Thursday. The island experienced gusts of up to 90mph as Ernesto grew into a category-one hurricane on Wednesday.
Forecasters are warning that Ernesto could become a major hurricane in the next 48 hours, bringing with it the threat of flash flooding, strong winds, and dangerous ocean swells. The storm is expected to continue to strengthen as it moves towards Bermuda, a British territory in the Atlantic Ocean.
By Saturday, Ernesto is forecasted to become a “large hurricane” according to US weather forecasters, before moving back out to sea and potentially brushing Atlantic Canada next week. The storm is the fifth named Atlantic storm of the season, following Hurricane Beryl which devastated the Caribbean and Texas Gulf Coast last month.
Climate change is believed to be a contributing factor to the intensity of storms like Ernesto, with experts warning that the North Atlantic could see an increase in major hurricanes this year. While there is no evidence that climate change is causing more hurricanes, it is making the most powerful ones more likely and bringing heavier rainfall.
As residents in Bermuda prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Ernesto, authorities are urging people to take precautions and prepare for the worst. With the storm expected to strengthen in the coming days, the safety of residents and their property is of utmost importance.
