Ernesto became stronger until it becomes a hurricane this Wednesday, when heavy rains hit Puerto Rico and nearly half of all customers remained in the US territory no electricity as it threatened to become a severe storm en route to Bermuda.
The storm was located about 175 miles (280 kilometers) northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was moving over open water. Maximum sustained winds were 75 mph (120 km/h) and it was moving northwest at 16 mph (26 km/h).
“The official forecast still reflects the possibility that Ernesto will in a major hurricane in about 48 hours“the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday morning.
A tropical storm warning was issued for Puerto Rico and its offshore islands of Vieques and Culebra, as well as for the United States and the British Virgin Islands.
“I know it was a long night listening to the howling of the wind“This was stated by the Governor of the US Virgin Islands, Albert Bryan Jr., at a press conference.
It was reported an island-wide power outage on St. John and St. Croixand at least six cell towers in the United States were offline, said Daryl Jaschen, emergency management director.
He added that St. Croix and St. Thomas airports are expected to reopen at noon.
A car drives along a road covered with branches and debris left behind by the storm in Puerto Rico. Photo: ReutersHowever, schools and government offices remained closed in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, where reports say severe flooding in several areas, Officials were forced to block roads, some of which were covered with trees, and nearly 100 flights to and from Puerto Rico were canceled.
“A lot of rain, a lot of rain,” Culebra Mayor Edilberto Romero said in a telephone interview. “We have trees that have fallen onto public roads. Some roofs have collapsed.”
Bermuda, the warning
Ernesto is expected to move through open water during the rest of the week and will move closer to Bermuda on Friday and Saturday. A storm is expected to occur Important Category 3 over the next few days and will then weaken slightly to Category 2 as it approaches Bermuda.
A man surveys the damage after the storm has passed. Photo: Reuters“Residents must prepare now before conditions worsen,” said Michael Weeks, Bermuda's Minister of National Security. “Now is not the time to become complacent.”
Meteorologists also warned Strong storm surge along the east coast of the United States.
“This means that anyone who goes to the beach, even when the weather is nice and pleasant, could be dangerous… with these currents,” said Robbie Berg, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center.