As Hurricane Ernesto unleashed its fury upon Bermuda, the island territory found itself battling powerful winds and towering 35-foot waves on Saturday. The relentless storm brought with it relentless rain, raising fears of deadly flooding that could devastate the British territory.
More than 70% of Bermuda's 36,000 customers were left without power as Ernesto's eye passed over the west end of the archipelago, paving its way north-northeast. By 11 a.m. EDT, the storm hovered just 50 miles away from the region, with its hurricane-force winds extending up to 70 miles from its center and tropical storm-force winds reaching as far as 240 miles.
As the eye of the storm briefly swept over Bermuda, residents noted a surreal calm before being enveloped by fierce winds clocking in at 80 mph. Meteorologists anticipated the storm to maintain this intensity for the next 48 hours before easing off. Meanwhile, the Bermuda Weather Service warned of towering 35-foot waves approaching from the south and east, coupled with already accumulated 5.5 inches of rain in the past day.
Forecasts projected up to 9 inches of rainfall, heightening the risk of flash floods, as a perilous storm surge poised to cause severe coastal flooding across the archipelago. Situated more than 600 miles off the coast of South Carolina, Bermuda's approximately 64,000 residents braced for the worst.
While the eye of the storm was expected to veer away from Bermuda and head towards southeastern Newfoundland by Monday, electric utility BELCO grappled with near-total outages affecting over 26,000 customers. With treacherous wind conditions beginning to ease off, crews prepared to assess the damage to the grid once it was deemed safe to venture out.
National Security Minister Michael Weeks issued a stern warning against venturing outdoors during the tumultuous weather, urging residents to stay indoors. BELCO President Wayne Caines echoed these sentiments, cautioning against the dangers posed by downed power lines and poles.
Moreover, the U.S.-based National Hurricane Center alerted to the impact of ocean swells generated by Ernesto, with ripple effects felt as far as New York. Anticipating hazardous rip currents and towering 6-foot swells, authorities in the city announced the closure of all beaches in Brooklyn and Queens for the weekend to ensure public safety amid the storm's aftermath.