| Hurricane Ernesto | |
| Formed: | August 12, 2024 |
| Extratropical: | August 20, 2024 |
| Dissipated: | August 22, 2024 |
| Winds: | 85 |
| Pressure: | 968 |
| Fatalities: | 3 |
| Year: | 2024 |
| Damage: | 150000000 |
| Areas: | Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Atlantic Canada, British Isles |
Hurricane Ernesto was a moderately strong Atlantic hurricane that caused significant flooding in Puerto Rico before striking Bermuda as a hurricane. The fifth named storm and third hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Ernesto developed from a tropical wave east of the Leeward Islands. The storm moved towards the Antilles, impacting several nations. Ernesto then turned north, where it reached Category 2 strength, before making landfall in Bermuda as a Category 1 hurricane on August 17. Ernesto then weakened back to a tropical storm before intensifying back into a hurricane and brushing Atlantic Canada, becoming extratropical by August 20.
At least three deaths have been tied to Ernesto, all related to rip currents from the hurricane along the East Coast of the United States.
On August 8, the NHC noted that an area of low pressure could form in the central or tropical Atlantic.[1] Later that day, they began tracking a tropical wave southwest of Cabo Verde.[2] Shower activity associated with the wave began increasing two days later,[3] later showing signs of organization on August 11.[4] As a result, later that day, the disturbance developed into a low-pressure area.[5] As the system was expected to impact the Leeward Islands, it was designated Potential Tropical Cyclone Five soon after.[6] The next day, the system organized enough to become a tropical storm, being named Ernesto.[7] Ernesto intensified as it moved through the Lesser Antilles, impacting the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.[8] Favorable environment conditions allowed Ernesto to intensify further, becoming a hurricane on August 14.[9] It intensified further, peaking as a Category 2 hurricane a day later.[10] Following this, Ernesto weakened due to wind shear before making landfall in Bermuda at 8:30 UTC on August 17 as a Category 1 hurricane.[11]
After making landfall, Ernesto then weakened further into a tropical storm due to dry air later that day.[12] However, at 21:00 UTC the next day, Ernesto re-intensified into a Category 1 hurricane as environmental conditions began to improve around Ernesto. After a brief period of re-intensification throughout August 19, re-strengthening to sustained winds of 90 mph (145 km/h),[13] Ernesto began to weaken once again due to colder sea surface temperatures and environmental conditions becoming unfavorable, as it brushed the coast of Newfoundland.[14] As Ernesto continued to move to the northeast during the middle of August 20, Ernesto became post-tropical as the NHC ceased issuing further advisories on the system.[15] By August 21, Ernesto opened into a trough in the North Atlantic.[16]
Tropical storm warnings were issued in advance of Ernesto for Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, the French West Indies (apart from Martinique), Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sint Maarten, and the United States Virgin Islands[17] [18] A hurricane watch was issued for the British and US Virgin Islands,[19] [20] and a hurricane warning was issued for Bermuda.
Orange alerts were issued for the French territories of Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy. The offices of France Travail closed on August 13 with remaining teams mobilized via telephone.[21] In Sint Maarten, the Dutch portion of Saint Martin, Princess Juliana International Airport closed at August 13 and reopened the following day.[22] Schools in the territory were closed. Prime Minister Luc Mercelina ordered political parties and businesses to remove billboards and other apparatus from public roads.[23] The VC Bird International Airport in Antigua closed on the night of August 12 and reopened the following afternoon.[24]
The Puerto Rico National Guard was mobilized ahead of the arrival of the storm. The government also delayed the start of classes for public schools and froze prices for essential goods, while municipal mayors activated emergency plans. LUMA Energy said that there were over 1,000 workers and more than $200 million worth of supplies ready to respond to power outages due to the storm, as well as independent contractors.[25] The National Guard also transferred the only remaining native parrots, the Puerto Rico Amazon, on the island indoors.[26] More than 140 flights were cancelled in Puerto Rico.[27]
Bermuda was placed under a hurricane warning.[28] The L.F. Wade International Airport was closed, while public transportation was banned.[29]
Dangerous rip currents were warned for in the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Dominican Republic.
Rip current warnings statements and small craft advisories were issued along the coast of Florida from West Palm Beach up to Jacksonville and also along the coast of Georgia.[30] In New York City, parks and the beaches of Brooklyn and Queens were shut down.[31]
Areas of Scotland were placed under a yellow warning by the Met Office as the remnants of Ernesto were forecast to approach.[32] Met Éireann also issued yellow warnings for Galway and Mayo. The Strathaven Balloon Race was cancelled in anticipation of gusty winds from the system.[33] Sandbags were distributed and placed across west Ireland.[34] Galway County Council shut down roads and parking that were vulnerable to flooding.
A gust of 77mph was recorded in Saint Barthélemy and 61mph in Saint Martin.[35] In Sint Maarten, minor damage was reported. Localized flooding occurred, while some bits of debris were thrown around.[36] As Ernesto passed south of Anguilla, it brought strong winds and hazardous surf conditions to the island. The Blowing Hole and Sandy Ground ports were closed in preparation for the storm, and the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport closed early until further notice.[37] On the island of Sint Eustatius, many trees were downed, including a large one in Hell Hole that was completely snapped in half. Almost every village on the island had some damage. Multiple roadways were damaged and flooded. One road needed to be stabilized by a backhoe. Power outages occurred, though power was quickly restored. Part of a historic stone structure was knocked into a wall that resided below.[38]
In Saint Kitts and Nevis, powerlines and trees were downed, while workers needed to clear roads of debris after Ernesto passed by. The National Emergency Management Agency of St. Kitts advised residents to stay off roads and potentially unstable ground.[39] Damage due to the storm’s passage across the island was estimated at EC$2.1 million (US$780,000).[40] Power outages occurred in Antigua and Barbuda.[41] In Montserrat, heavy rainfall and winds from Ernesto damaged a ship in Little Bay. The boat was carrying roughly 250l of diesel oil, though the Oil Spill Team was able to recover it.[42]
Several main roads on the island of Guadeloupe were closed due to the storm.[43] More than 45,000 customers lost power in the Virgin Islands as a result of hurricane force wind gusts. The entirety of Saint Croix and Saint Thomas lost electricity. By August 14, many roads in the US Virgin Islands were still damaged and residents were urged to stay off of them. Many trees and utility poles were knocked down by winds across the islands, while branches from the trees were scattered across the roadways.[44] At least six cellphone towers were knocked offline in the Virgin Islands.[45] United States President Joe Biden approved a disaster declaration for US Virgin Islands.[46]
Power outages occurred on all islands. All schools were closed prior to the storm's arrival.[47] Over 10,000 people were still without power in the US Virgin Islands on August 16.[48] [49]
Sustained winds on the island of Culebra reached 86 mph (138 km/h),[50] where downed trees blocked roads and roofs were blown off. Over 728,000 households in Puerto Rico lost power, around half of the island. An additional 235,000 households suffered water outages.[51] United States President Joe Biden approved a disaster declaration for Puerto Rico. Multiple rivers on the island overflowed, damaging roads and causing flooding.[52] By morning on August 16, over 200,000 Puerto Ricans were still without power. According to the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture, damage to crops on the island totaled $23.5 million (2024 USD), including $11.5 million in damage to bananas, $2.5 million to coffee and vegetables, $2 million to guineos, and $800,000 to citrus and fruits. In addition, $1 million worth of damage was dealt to hydroponics, $1.2 million to fodder, and $2 million to roads.[53]
Ernesto made direct landfall on Bermuda early Saturday morning, August 17. Hurricane-force gusts swept across the island, toppling utility poles, downing trees or snapping off their branches, and causing light wind damage to a few businesses.[54] Ernesto’s winds kicked up large waves along Bermuda’s coasts;[55] some coastal hotels and business suffered mild flooding. BELCO reported that 51 main power lines were damaged, resulting in widespread outages.[56] At the height of the storm, 28,817 customers on the island lost power, which took several days to be restored in part due to utility pole fires.[57]
Swells generated by Ernesto effected the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic.[58] Rip currents also impacts the Eastern Seaboard of the United States.[59] In South Carolina, rip currents generated by Ernesto resulted in the deaths of two people.[60] In North Carolina, a home along the shoreline on Hatteras Island collapsed due to the waves generated by Ernesto, while many others were at risk.[61] [62] [63] One death was reported in North Carolina, where a surfer was found dead in Surf City. Large waves and rip currents also stretched north in beaches in Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland.[64] In New Jersey, a man was rescued by lifeguards after being pulled out by rip currents. He sustained knee and back injuries. In Ventnor City, eight rescues were made.[65] Ernesto's outflow brought dry air to Florida, decreasing rain and heat indices.[66] [67]
In Galway, streets and quays along waterways were inundated. Flooding was exacerbated by a supermoon.[68]
