Ernesto strengthened into a hurricane early Monday as it moved further out into the Atlantic toward far eastern Canada, but the storm is expected to remain offshore, bringing powerful surf, dangerous surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast, the National Hurricane Center said.
Ernesto’s maximum sustained winds increased Monday to near 80 mph (129 kph), with higher gusts, the hurricane center said. It is expected to weaken to a post-tropical storm Tuesday, the center said.
The storm was centered about 113 kilometres south of Cape Race, Newfoundland, and is expected to move toward the Atlantic on Tuesday, the centre said. Coastal flooding is possible in Canada.
Residents across the Northeast coast should remain cautious, the center said.
In an interview with AP, National Hurricane Center chief meteorologist David Zelinsky said Ernesto was bringing strong waves and potentially deadly rip currents to the U.S. East Coast.
“We certainly encourage anyone going to the beach, anywhere along the East Coast of the United States, to pay attention to the flags that are flying, to what the lifeguards are saying and to stay out of the water if it’s not safe,” David Zelinksy, the hurricane center’s chief meteorologist, said Monday.
Waves generated by Ernesto affected parts of Bermuda, the U.S. East Coast and parts of Canada’s Atlantic coast. The waves and rip currents, which are life-threatening, are expected to ease in the coming days, the hurricane center said.
The weather service has issued a coastal flood advisory and warned of a high risk for rip currents along the Atlantic coast through Monday night, saying they “can carry even the strongest swimmers away from shore into deeper water.”
A warning extends from Florida to the Boston area and parts of Maine.
Meteorologists, citing local emergency services, said a 41-year-old man drowned Saturday in a rip current in Surf City, North Carolina.
Two men drowned Friday off Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where rip current warnings were issued. They were Ralph Jamieson, 66, of South Euclid, Ohio, and Leonard Schenz, 73, of Loveland, Ohio. It could be weeks before autopsy results can determine whether the deaths are linked to Ernesto, Beaufort County Coroner David Ott said.
Over the weekend, Ernesto initially weakened to a tropical storm Saturday night after bringing heavy rain and strong winds to Bermuda, but no injuries were reported, Bermuda Safety Minister Michael Weeks said Sunday afternoon.
Ernesto has already beaten the northeastern Caribbeanleaving tens of thousands of people without water in Puerto Rico.
After cleaning up and removing debris, the Virgin Islands Department of Education announced that all public schools would resume operations Monday. Public school classes were also scheduled to resume Monday in Puerto Rico, nearly a week after the original opening date.
Flooding in Connecticut Rainfall from a storm Sunday was unrelated to Ernesto, weather officials said. The rain washed out roads, flooded basements and led to rescues and at least one death.
In the eastern Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Gilma has strengthened but is expected to remain far from land this week.
