Hurricane Ernesto maps: track storm as it aims at Bermuda, causes riptides in US
Hurricane Ernesto regained strength as it sat over Atlantic waters as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands recovered from the storm's broadside Thursday.
About 20% of residents and businesses in Puerto Rico remained without power as of Thursday, according to the island's energy provider LUMA Energy. Services remained under repair while parts of the island faced record breaking heat as 258,000 customers still lacked drinking water by 6 p.m., according to El Nuevo Dia.
The Category 1 hurricane was 450 miles south-southwest of Bermuda with sustained winds of 90 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center's 8 p.m. update.
You can track the storm's path with the latest maps and models below and follow along with USA TODAY's coverage of Tropical Storm Ernesto as the fifth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season moves through the Caribbean.
Where is Ernesto heading?
Ernesto could become a Category 3 hurricane by Friday before approaching Bermuda on Saturday, according to the NHC.
"Ernesto strengthening as it approaches Bermuda,'' the NHC said, adding that the storm could become a major hurricane with sustained winds of at least 111 mph as early as Friday.
Projections currently show that the storm will drift over the Atlantic Ocean, avoiding the eastern seaboard but disrupting cruises.
Ernesto avoids east coast, causes riptides
While the hurricane is not projected to hit the east coast, the storm is set to cause rip currents and high surf from Florida to Nova Scotia.
"Best to stay out of the ocean Friday through Sunday (at least),” said the National Weather Service in Wilmington, North Carolina. The NWS issued a high rip current risk warning for the area for 6 a.m. ET through 6 p.m. ET Friday and a high surf warning for 2 p.m. ET through 11 a.m. ET Saturday.
Rip current risk for Friday remains high in Miami, Jacksonville and Charleston.
Tropical storm Ernesto path tracker
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Tropical Storm Ernesto Spaghetti Models
Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Track Hurricane Ernesto as it gathers strength barreling on Bermuda
