Fierce seas in US north-east as Ernesto regains hurricane strength over Atlantic
Forecasters warn of life-threatening surf and rip tides: ‘It’s going to be really dangerous out in the water today’
Hurricane Ernesto, which had weakened to a tropical storm on Saturday, has regained hurricane strength as it moves away from Bermuda and further into the Atlantic Ocean. The US National Hurricane Center in Miami reports that the storm’s maximum sustained winds are now 75 mph (120 km/h), classifying it as a Category 1 hurricane.
While Ernesto is expected to weaken and become a post-tropical cyclone by Tuesday, it is currently generating powerful swells that are impacting the Bahamas, Bermuda, the US east coast, and the Canadian Atlantic coast. The National Hurricane Center warns of life-threatening surf and rip current conditions in these areas over the next couple of days.
The US National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood advisory and a high-risk warning for rip currents along the Atlantic coast through Monday evening. Meteorologist Mike Lee of Mount Holly, New Jersey, emphasizes the extreme danger posed by rip currents, stating, "It’s going to be really dangerous out in the water today." He warns that rip currents can sweep even experienced swimmers away from shore into deeper water.
The severity of rip currents has already resulted in at least one fatality and multiple rescues. In Surf City, North Carolina, a 41-year-old man drowned on Saturday in a rip current. Additionally, two men drowned on Friday in separate incidents on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, though it is unclear if rip currents were involved.
In New Jersey, a fisherman was washed off a jetty at Manasquan Inlet on Saturday, but was quickly rescued by lifeguards. The victim sustained knee and back injuries, as well as a possible concussion, and was transported to a hospital. Lifeguards also rescued at least five other people in the area. Further south in Ventnor City, eight people were rescued by beach patrol officers.
Separately, heavy rains unrelated to the hurricane have caused flooding in parts of western Connecticut, leading to road closures, water rescues, and a minor mudslide. The floodwaters swept two people into the Little River in the town of Oxford. As of Monday morning, one person had been found dead, while the other remains missing. Videos posted on Facebook show the severity of the flooding, with roads and homes submerged under water, including one video showing a small building being washed downstream.
The rough surf generated by Hurricane Ernesto contributed to the collapse of an unoccupied beach house along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Friday evening. Seashore officials are urging the public to avoid beaches in parts of Rodanthe due to "substantial damage" to several oceanfront structures. Debris cleanup is expected to take several days.
While Bermuda weathered the storm without any major incidents or injuries, the hurricane’s powerful swells and potential for dangerous rip currents continue to pose a threat to coastal areas. The National Weather Service and local authorities are urging people to exercise extreme caution when near the water, and to heed all warnings and advisories.
While Ernesto is expected to weaken and become a post-tropical cyclone by Tuesday, it is currently generating powerful swells that are impacting the Bahamas, Bermuda, the US east coast, and the Canadian Atlantic coast. The National Hurricane Center warns of life-threatening surf and rip current conditions in these areas over the next couple of days.
The US National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood advisory and a high-risk warning for rip currents along the Atlantic coast through Monday evening. Meteorologist Mike Lee of Mount Holly, New Jersey, emphasizes the extreme danger posed by rip currents, stating, "It’s going to be really dangerous out in the water today." He warns that rip currents can sweep even experienced swimmers away from shore into deeper water.
The severity of rip currents has already resulted in at least one fatality and multiple rescues. In Surf City, North Carolina, a 41-year-old man drowned on Saturday in a rip current. Additionally, two men drowned on Friday in separate incidents on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, though it is unclear if rip currents were involved.
In New Jersey, a fisherman was washed off a jetty at Manasquan Inlet on Saturday, but was quickly rescued by lifeguards. The victim sustained knee and back injuries, as well as a possible concussion, and was transported to a hospital. Lifeguards also rescued at least five other people in the area. Further south in Ventnor City, eight people were rescued by beach patrol officers.
Separately, heavy rains unrelated to the hurricane have caused flooding in parts of western Connecticut, leading to road closures, water rescues, and a minor mudslide. The floodwaters swept two people into the Little River in the town of Oxford. As of Monday morning, one person had been found dead, while the other remains missing. Videos posted on Facebook show the severity of the flooding, with roads and homes submerged under water, including one video showing a small building being washed downstream.
The rough surf generated by Hurricane Ernesto contributed to the collapse of an unoccupied beach house along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Friday evening. Seashore officials are urging the public to avoid beaches in parts of Rodanthe due to "substantial damage" to several oceanfront structures. Debris cleanup is expected to take several days.
While Bermuda weathered the storm without any major incidents or injuries, the hurricane’s powerful swells and potential for dangerous rip currents continue to pose a threat to coastal areas. The National Weather Service and local authorities are urging people to exercise extreme caution when near the water, and to heed all warnings and advisories.