Tropical Storm Ernesto became a hurricane again Sunday as it churned away from Bermuda and headed further out in the northeastern Atlantic, sending powerful swells toward the U.S. East Coast, generating rip currents associated with at least one death and prompting many rescues.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Ernesto’s maximum sustained winds were clocked at 75 mph (120 kph), just barely Category 1 strength.
Swells generated by Ernesto were affecting portions of the Bahamas, Bermuda, the U.S. East Coast as well as the Canadian Atlantic coast. Life-threatening surf and rip current conditions are likely in these areas during the next couple of days, the hurricane center said.
The National Weather Service earlier posted a coastal flood advisory and warned of a high risk for rip currents along the Atlantic Coast through Monday evening, saying they “can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.”
By 11 p.m., the storm was headed away from the island toward the north-northeast at a casual pace of 8 mph, the center said.
It was about 590 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Sunday morning, moving north-northeast at an accelerated speed of 16 mph with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.
“Some intensification is possible Sunday and Sunday night, and Ernesto could regain hurricane status,” the hurricane center said in an update on Ernesto. “The cyclone will likely become post-tropical near southeastern Newfoundland by Monday night or Tuesday morning.”
The center of Ernesto is expected to pass near southeastern Newfoundland late Monday into Tuesday morning, according to the hurricane center.
“Only Canadian impacts expected are moderate to heavy surf along the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia, and some rain and moderate winds to southeasternmost Newfoundland,” Environment Canada said in an update Sunday.” Large waves can be expected there later in the day on Monday.”
In Nova Scotia, “moderate to heavy surf conditions with a risk of rip currents along the Atlantic Coast of the province tonight and Monday,” are expected,” according to Environment Canada. Rain is also forecast for the province Sunday night and Monday.
“Ernesto will be transitioning into a post-tropical storm as it passes south of the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland later Monday,” Environment Canada said. “It may pass close enough, however, to bring some rain and wind to portions of the Avalon Peninsula, and to a lesser extent the Bonavista and Burin peninsulas.”
Coastal flooding resulting from large waves are also forecast along the southern Avalon Peninsula and Placentia Bay, which can cause damage to docks and other structures along the coast.
A tropical storm warning is no longer in effect in Bermuda, where 7 to 9 inches of rain was expected to bring “life-threatening” flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas, the hurricane center said Saturday. Flooding along the coast was also possible on the island, paired with “large and destructive waves.”
In a statement Saturday morning, the government of Bermuda warned that although the eye of the storm had moved north of the island, the southern eye wall was still expected to make its impact.
“Do not be fooled by winds not ramping up quickly... we still have the 2nd half of Ernesto set to move over us,” the government said on X.
As of Sunday afternoon, more than 10,000 utility customers still do not have power, or about 34% of the island, according to the Bermuda Electric Light Co. The company is continuing its restoration efforts Sunday.
There have not been reports of any major damage in Bermuda yet, officials said, but emergency services have also been on limited patrols due to the strong winds.
Video captured by an NBC News crew in Hamilton, the island’s capital city, showed some debris, including downed palm fronds and tree branches, but no damage to buildings. In Southhampton, strong winds could be seen blowing through the palm trees. There were also downed trees, power lines and branches in the area.
Clean up efforts were underway Sunday afternoon on the island.
Dangerous beach conditions, including large waves and rip currents, are expected along the East Coast and Atlantic Canada until early next week. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration buoys overnight measured waves of 7 feet off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and 6 feet off Montauk Point, Long Island.
New York City officials concerned about storm-agitated rip currents said Queens and Brooklyn beaches are closed to swimming through the end of the day Sunday. Authorities herded people onto dry sand on Saturday.
“They were suddenly ushering people out of the water,” Coney Island beachgoer Felia Williams of Astoria told NBC New York.
The National Weather Service said Saturday the rip current risk was high in Ocean City, Maryland. A 12-year-old boy drowned Saturday after being caught in a rip current at Ocean City, Maryland. A Coast Guard boat recovered the boy’s body shortly after he went missing, authorities said.
The Coast Guard also rescued a teenager Saturday who was caught in a rip current off the coast of Delaware.
After a Saturday storm dropped a record amount of precipitation on many parts of the GTHA, Etobicoke residents are pleading for help after a third major flood has left them with another disastrous cleanup.
Theresa…
Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a weather alert on Sunday for Toronto as well as Peel, York and Durham regions.
More than 9,000 workers at Canada’s two major railways could be either on strike or locked out as of Thursday, disrupting supply chains relied upon by many industries.
The union representing thousands...
Three people have been arrested following a planned demonstration in North York on Sunday.
Toronto police say a fight broke out just before 1:30 p.m. during a pro-Israel demonstration in the Sheppard...
After a Saturday storm dropped a record amount of precipitation on many parts of the GTHA, Etobicoke residents are pleading for help after a third major flood has left them with another disastrous cleanup.
Theresa…
Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a weather alert on Sunday for Toronto as well as Peel, York and Durham regions.
More than 9,000 workers at Canada’s two major railways could be either on strike or locked out as of Thursday, disrupting supply chains relied upon by many industries.
The union representing thousands...
Three people have been arrested following a planned demonstration in North York on Sunday.
Toronto police say a fight broke out just before 1:30 p.m. during a pro-Israel demonstration in the Sheppard...
Neighbours in a small town near Kitchener are thankful nobody was hurt after a tornado left serious damage across the area. David Zura explains and looks at the string of tornadoes to hit the area in just two weeks.
Wide-spread rainfall warnings will give way to sunny and dry conditions on Monday and for the rest of the week with temperatures in the low 20s.
The 103rd annual Warriors’ Day parade was held down at the CNE, honouring the men and women who served and who continue to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces.
A stream of steady heavy rain swept through the GTA forcing one of North America’s most iconic horse races to find a rain date. David Zura explains.
A number of weather watches and warnings remain in effect after a months worth of rain fell on the GTA on Saturday..
Now New and Improved! Watch CityNews, listen to NewsRadio Toronto live anytime and get up-to-the-minute breaking-news alerts, traffic, weather and video from CityNews Toronto anywhere you are – across all Android and iOS devices.
