Hurricane Ernesto, which began as a tropical storm, has intensified its strength becoming a Category 1 hurricane on the morning of today, August 14, 2024, according to the United States National Hurricane Center.
This meteorological phenomenon, which is already north of Puerto Rico, has reached sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour, with even stronger gusts, and is moving northwest at a speed of 26 kilometers per hour.
In its current position, Ernesto is located 280 kilometers northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and 1,340 kilometers south-southwest of Bermuda. Authorities have warned that this hurricane could bring torrential rains that cause severe flooding in both Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
After a recent flight by a hurricane hunter plane, it was confirmed that Ernesto will continue to strengthen in the coming days as it moves away from Puerto Rico, with the potential to affect Bermuda over the weekend. Ernesto's hurricane-force winds extend up to 55 kilometers from its center, posing a considerable risk to nearby areas.
This hurricane, the fifth cyclone of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, has brought heavy rains impacting several regions. Puerto Rico is expected to receive up to 254 mm of precipitation, while the British and U.S. Virgin Islands may face up to 152.4 mm of rain. In addition, the waves generated by Ernesto are already affecting the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The impact of Ernesto has been devastating for the electrical infrastructure in Puerto Rico. More than 630,000 people have been left without electricity, affecting almost half of the customers of LUMA Energy, the company in charge of energy distribution on the island. In the nearby Virgin Islands, more than 46,000 customers have also been left in the dark, representing more than 90% of registered users.
Since Tuesday night, Ernesto has been lashing hard against both the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, with winds reaching speeds exceeding 74 mph even before the storm became a hurricane. Although the center of the hurricane is now about 175 miles northwest of San Juan, Ernesto is expected to begin moving northward away from the region, allowing winds to gradually diminish during Wednesday afternoon.
The community in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands continues to deal with the consequences of this natural phenomenon, as authorities continue to monitor its path and effects.
Chief forecaster and ideologist of the weather forecast service Pogodnik. Co-author of scientific articles and specialized content for various online media.
