Hurricane Ernesto is crossing Puerto Rico and heading towards the Caribbean island of Bermuda, leaving greater than half of the properties and companies there with out energy.
Ernesto, with wind gusts reaching 100 mph (155 km/h), has strengthened right into a Class 2 hurricane, the US Nationwide Hurricane Middle (NHC) stated in its newest advisory issued at 03:00 GMT on Friday.
It warned that Ernesto “might method extreme hurricane energy on Friday” and was anticipated to go close to or over Bermuda on Saturday.
The Nationwide Hurricane Middle added that harmful storm surges had been anticipated, bringing “massive damaging waves” and extreme coastal flooding.
Bermuda is a British territory consisting of 181 islands within the Atlantic Ocean.
Forecasters have beforehand warned that local weather change will make such storms extra intense.
Ernesto swept by Puerto Rico on Thursday evening, the NHC stated.
Luma Vitality, Puerto Rico’s essential electrical energy supplier, reported that about 410,000 prospects had been with out energy as of round midday on Thursday, Reuters reported.
Luma President and CEO Juan Saca stated greater than 1,500 staff had been engaged on web site to “reestablish service” and reconnect energy.
“Now we have to evaluate what steps are wanted to resolve this drawback,” he stated.
Puerto Rico’s energy grid has been knocked out by hurricanes earlier than. When Hurricane Fiona hit the island in 2022, about 80% of properties and companies had been with out energy for almost a month.
Ernesto is the fifth named Atlantic storm this season.
Hurricane Beryl The earliest Class 5 storm ever recorded within the Atlantic Ocean, it swept by the Caribbean and Texas Gulf Coast final month, killing dozens of individuals and knocking out energy to thousands and thousands.
Earlier this yr, the U.S. Climate Service NOAA warned that the North Atlantic might see as many as seven main hurricanes of Class 3 or larger depth this yr, greater than double the standard quantity.
Whereas there is no such thing as a proof that local weather change is producing extra hurricanes, it’s making the strongest hurricanes extra prone to happen and produce heavier rainfall.
