Two Caribbean countries in sights of Ernesto

All data models are indicating that Bermuda and the US Virgin Islands are in the direct path of Tropical Storm Ernesto which up to mid-morning Wednesday was showing definite signs of developing into the third major if not deadly storm of the 2024 hurricane season.

Ernesto was packing winds of up to 70 miles per hour, significantly strengthening from earlier in the week when it barreled through the Windward and Leeward Islands without causing any major damage or resultant fatalities. A category one storm starts at 74 miles per hour. The season has seen five named storms so far with three developing into hurricanes, Beryl, Debby and now Ernesto.

But authorities in Puerto Rico say that Ernesto has already caused misery as it lashed the US protectorate overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, causing floods in low lying areas and damaging the power system leaving as much as 300,000 people with power. In the nearby US Virgin Islands, nearly 50,000 people are also reported to be sharing the same plight as Ernesto gets ready to head into the extremely warm waters of the Western Atlantic, setting its sights on the tiny British colony of Bermuda by the weekend.

In Bermuda, about 600 miles southeast of the Carolinas, emergency officials are preparing for landfall late Friday or early Saturday as officials hold a series of emergency planning meetings to prepare the population of about 64,000 for a hit.

“The Bermuda government, through the Emergency Measures Organization, continues to closely monitor Tropical Storm Ernesto, which has strengthened since the last update and is expected to approach Bermuda as a Category 2 hurricane by early Saturday morning. All residents are urged to accelerate their storm preparations considering this development. A weather front from the US East Coast is expected to move over Bermuda tonight (Wednesday), bringing torrential rainfall and intermittent showers over the next few days due to the system stalling over the island but could potentially hamper hurricane preparations. Residents are, therefore, urged to get ready for the impending hurricane as soon as possible,” the government said in a warning to tourists and locals.

Security Minister Mike Weeks urged Bermudians to prepare for the worst as officials are uncertain about the depth of the impact Ernesto might have as it strengthens in open waters. “Residents need to prepare now before conditions worsen. Time is of the essence. Now is not the time for complacency. We must not underestimate Ernesto’s potential impact. With the combination of the unrelated weather front and the impending hurricane, it is crucial that everyone remains prepared and follows official guidance. I urge everyone to ensure they have adequate hurricane supplies, including tarpaulins, rope, water, batteries, portable power banks, food and medicine.”

The annual storm season that begins in early June and concludes at the end of November, usually peaks around August to October so officials in the hemisphere are on the lookout for what the remainder of the session will bring.