Saturday, August 17, 2024 Hurricane Ernesto made its way across Bermuda early Saturday as a Category 1 storm, causing significant disruptions on the island. One of the most immediate impacts was the cancellation of 10 flights at L.F.
Wade International Airport as the storm’s strong winds and heavy rains made travel unsafe. The hurricane, which has sustained winds of up to 80 mph, is currently moving north-northeast at around 9 mph. The National Hurricane Center warned of the dangerous conditions, including strong winds, a significant storm surge, and the potential for coastal flooding.
As Ernesto slowly moves past Bermuda, hurricane-force winds are expected to continue until Saturday afternoon, with tropical storm conditions likely to persist into Sunday. The Bermuda Weather Service confirmed that a Hurricane warning remains in effect. In addition to the flight cancellations, Bermuda’s power provider, BELCO, reported over 26,000 customers without electricity as of Saturday afternoon.
The island’s residents have been urged to stay indoors and take precautions as the storm passes. Bermuda, a British territory composed of 181 small islands, rarely experiences direct landfall from hurricanes. According to AccuWeather, only 11 out of 130 tropical storms that have come within 100 miles of Bermuda since 1850 have actually made landfall.
Before reaching Bermuda, Ernesto caused significant damage in the northeastern Caribbean, leaving tens of thousands in Puerto Rico without wat.