MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Ernesto weakened to a tropical storm late Saturday as it moved across open Atlantic waters from Bermuda, bringing heavy rain and strong winds early in the morning as it passed the tiny British territory.
Ernesto forced residents to stay indoors, and more than 23,000 people lost power, officials said. By late Saturday, the storm’s maximum sustained winds had dropped to 70 mph (110 kph). It was centered about 140 miles (225 kilometers) northeast of Bermuda and was moving north-northeast at 8 mph (13 km).
The National Hurricane Center has warned of strong winds, dangerous storm surge and significant coastal flooding for Bermuda.
Bermuda could get 7 to 9 inches (17-22.5 centimeters) of rain, the center said. “These rains will cause significant life-threatening flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas of the island,” it said.
Due to the storm’s large size and slow movement, sometimes up to hurricane force is expected into Saturday night and tropical storm-force winds are expected to continue into Sunday, the Bermuda government said.
As of Saturday afternoon, Michelle Pitcher, director of the Bermuda Weather Service, said wind speeds were still reaching hurricane force. “It’s still very difficult out there,” he said.
A tropical storm warning will remain in place overnight, Pitcher said.
Premier David Burt shared a video on social media platform X thanking emergency services and encouraging residents to stay inside.
“Overnight, tropical storm force winds will still be present and we urge everyone to exercise caution,” he said. “Stay at home.”
Bermuda’s power company Belco said 23,000 customers were without power as of Saturday night.
The hurricane center reported life-threatening surf and rip currents along the East Coast of the United States and Canada. Ernesto is expected to pass near southeastern Newfoundland on Monday night and may regain hurricane strength, it said.
Lana Morris, manager of the Edgehill Manor Guest House in Bermuda, said conditions remained calm, although the wind had picked up again. “I talked to my guests and they said they still have electricity, they still have water, they’re comfortable.”
Morris said he communicated with his guests by phone. “They don’t have internet — but if the network goes down, it goes down. They’re safe, and I’m happy about that.
Bermuda is an archipelago of 181 small islands whose total land area is roughly the size of Manhattan.
According to Accuweather, it is unusual for a hurricane’s eye to make landfall in Bermuda. It noted that before today, since 1850, only 11 of the 130 tropical storms that made landfall within 100 miles (160 kilometers) of Bermuda had made landfall.
The region is a renowned offshore financial center with solid construction, and given its altitude, storm surge is not as problematic as low-lying islands.
Ernesto earlier hit the northeastern Caribbean, where it left tens of thousands of people without water in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico’s national power company, LUMA, said it had restored power to more than 1.3 million customers 72 hours after the storm passed.
The Virgin Islands Department of Education said all public schools will resume operations on Monday after cleaning up and removing debris.
Classes in Puerto Rico’s public schools were also scheduled to begin Monday, nearly a week after their original date.
Ernesto is the fifth named storm and third hurricane of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year Due to the warmest sea temperatures on record. It predicts 17 to 25 named storms with four to seven major hurricanes.
