Hurricane Ernesto’s Projected Path

Hurricane Ernesto intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday morning, bringing heavy rain and wind gusts reaching 75 mph to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Numerous areas across Puerto Rico remain under flood flash warnings, as the storm has produced up to 10 inches of rainfall across much of eastern Puerto Rico, while other areas have been less affected. Rainfall from Ernesto is expected to impact Bermuda on Thursday.

The hurricane could become a Category 3 storm by Friday, reaching wind speeds as high as 129 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Ernesto, the third hurricane of the Atlantic Hurricane season, is predicted to stay offshore the U.S. East Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center. However, the Center warns that people should still be cautious of life-threatening surf and rip currents along East Coast beaches. Rip currents are responsible for approximately 100 drowning fatalities annually.

Over the next few days, the hurricane will continue its northward journey through the Caribbean, and is anticipated to reach Bermuda by Friday or Saturday. As of Wednesday morning, the hurricane was moving at a speed of 16 mph and was located 175 miles northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In the Virgin Islands, nearly 90% of the population, or over 45,000 customers, were left without power. In neighboring Puerto Rico, LUMA Energy, the operator of the island’s electricity grid, reported that half of their clients were without power, according to the latest update on Wednesday at 2:45 p.m. eastern time.

One in four flights departing from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport were canceled, and an additional 27% were delayed due to the hurricane.