Hurricane Ernesto Intensifies, Threatens Bermuda with Heavy Rain and Flash Floods
Hurricane Ernesto is rapidly intensifying as it moves northward towards Bermuda, posing significant threats of heavy rain and flash flooding. According to the US National Hurricane Center’s advisory at 2 p.m. in New York, the storm was located 550 miles south-southwest of Bermuda, with peak winds reaching 85 mph, categorizing it as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
Forecasts predict Ernesto will escalate to a Category 3 hurricane by Friday afternoon before potentially weakening to Category 2 upon nearing Bermuda on Saturday morning, AccuWeather Inc. reports. Alyssa Glenny, an AccuWeather meteorologist, noted, “It won’t be a direct hit, but a Category 2 storm is nothing to joke about.”
The Hurricane Center warns of up to 12 inches of rain, with Bermuda Electric Light Co. advising residents to brace for potential power outages due to high winds. Despite anticipated weakening, Ernesto is expected to deliver impactful weather, as the ocean’s cooler temperature and a pocket of drier air are likely to diminish its strength.
Bermuda’s robust infrastructure should fare better against Ernesto compared to Puerto Rico, which experienced power outages affecting over 390,000 homes and businesses following a close brush with the hurricane earlier in the week. In contrast, Glenny praised Bermuda’s preparedness and infrastructure resilience.
Michael Weeks, Bermuda’s minister of national security, cautioned residents on Wednesday to expect hurricane-force winds, dangerous seas, and probable power outages. He emphasized, “It only takes one storm to cause significant damage and disrupt our way of life.”
For more updates, visit bloomberg.com.
Original Story https://www.livemint.com/news/hurricane-ernesto-gets-stronger-as-it-churns-toward-bermuda-11723759306529.html
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