Hurricane Ernesto made landfall on the western side of Bermuda early Saturday as a powerful Category 1 storm, bringing significant rain and the threat of a dangerous storm surge throughout the day.
Bermuda had received nearly 6 inches of rain and could record another 3 inches Saturday, the Bermuda Weather Service said. The U.S. Weather Service warned of the potential for “considerable” life-threatening flooding.
Heavy rain and strong winds arrived on the main island Friday afternoon and were expected to last through Saturday night. Large, destructive waves were expected near the coast. The Bermuda government posted footage Saturday morning of the waves pounding against the rocky shore.
A tropical storm warning was issued for Bermuda on Saturday afternoon as the storm moved north-northeast, forecasters said.
“While the majority of Hurricane Ernesto has passed, it is still not over,” said Michelle Pitcher, director of the Bermuda Weather Service, adding that hurricane force winds were still expected throughout Saturday. By Saturday afternoon, maximum sustained winds were near 80 mph, gusting higher.
There were no reports of major damage or injuries as of Saturday afternoon, officials said, though many households found themselves in the dark.
BELCO, Bermuda’s sole electricity provider, said power failures affected more than 26,000 customers, or about 72% of its customers. The utility said its crews would resume work on restoring power as soon conditions improved.
The storm prompted a near-total shutdown of Bermuda’s transportation services. Ferry services were suspended, and bus services were halted Friday evening. L.F. Wade International Airport closed Friday night and said it would reopen Sunday.
Forecasters warned that swells and rip currents were likely to affect the U.S. East Coast through the weekend. The New York office of the weather service warned swimmers to stay out of the water.
This past week, Ernesto brought up to 10 inches of rain to parts of Puerto Rico. Luma Energy, which distributes electricity in the territory, said Saturday morning that nearly 112,000 customers were still without power.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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