Ernesto, now a hurricane, is drenching Puerto Rico and knocking out power (2024)

Ernesto, now a hurricane, is drenching Puerto Rico and knocking out power (1)

Tourists sit on La Pared beach as Ernesto passes by Luquillo, Puerto Rico, on Tuesday. Alejandro Granadillo/AP hide caption

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Alejandro Granadillo/AP

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Ernesto strengthened into a hurricane Wednesday as it dropped torrential rain on Puerto Rico and left nearly half of all clients in the U.S. territory without power as it threatened to become a major storm en route to Bermuda.

The storm was located about 225 miles northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico and was moving over open waters. It had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and was moving northwest at 16 mph.

“The official forecast still reflects the possibility of Ernesto becoming a major hurricane in about 48 hours,” the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday afternoon.

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Tropical storm warnings were discontinued for Puerto Rico and its outlying islands of Vieques and Culebra and for the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.

“I know it was a long night listening to that wind howl,” U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said in a news conference.

The impact elsewhere in the Caribbean: "A lot of rain"

An island-wide blackout was reported in St. John and St. Croix, and at least six cell phone towers were knocked offline across the U.S. territory, said Daryl Jaschen, emergency management director.

He added that the airports in St. Croix and St. Thomas were expected to reopen at midday.

Schools and government agencies remained closed in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, where heavy flooding was reported in several areas, forcing officials to block roads, some of which were strewn with trees. More than 140 flights also were canceled to and from Puerto Rico.

“A lot of rain, a lot of rain,” Culebra Mayor Edilberto Romero said in a phone interview. “We have trees that have fallen on public roads. There are some roofs that are blown off.”

Amid the relentless rain, officials opened one of Puerto Rico’s biggest dams and evacuated some residents from the north coastal town of Toa Baja as torrents of churning brown water flowed toward it.

Bermuda may see Ernesto's impact later in the week

Ernesto is forecast to move through open waters for the rest of the week and make its closest approach to Bermuda on Friday and Saturday. It is expected to become a major Category 3 storm in the upcoming days and then weaken slightly to a Category 2 as it nears Bermuda.

“Residents need to prepare now before conditions worsen,” said Bermuda's National Security Minister Michael Weeks. “Now is not the time for complacency.”

Forecasters also warned of heavy swells along the U.S. East Coast.

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“That means that anybody who goes to the beach, even if the weather is beautiful and nice, it could be dangerous … with those rip currents,” said Robbie Berg, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Hurricane Center.

Between 4 to 6 inches of rain is expected in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and between 6 to 8 inches in Puerto Rico, with up to 10 inches in isolated areas.

Late on Tuesday, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency had warned people in both U.S. territories to prepare for “extended power outages.”

Hundreds of thousands are without power in Puerto Rico

More than 700,000 customers were without power in Puerto Rico, along with 23 hospitals operating on generators, Gov. Pedro Pierluisi said Wednesday. He added that crews are assessing damage and that it was too early to tell when electricity would be restored.

“We are trying to get the system up and running as soon as we can,” said Juan Saca, president of Luma Energy, the company that operates transmission and distribution of power in Puerto Rico.

Luma Energy said earlier Wednesday in a statement that its priority was to restore power to hospitals, the island’s water and sewer company and other essential services. Some 235,000 customers were without water as a result of power outages, Pierluisi said.

Weather

Puerto Rico cancels classes, activates National Guard as Tropical Storm Ernesto nears

Puerto Rico’s power grid was razed by Hurricane Maria in September 2017 as a Category 4 storm, and it remains frail as crews continue to rebuild the system.

“It’s just frustrating that this many years later, we continue to see something like a storm cause such widespread outages in Puerto Rico, particularly given the risk that these outages can cause for vulnerable households in Puerto Rico,” said Charlotte Gossett Navarro, the Hispanic Federation’s chief director for Puerto Rico.

Not everyone can afford generators on the island of 3.2 million people with a more than 40% poverty rate.

“People already prepared themselves with candles,” said Lucía Rodríguez, a 31-year-old street vendor.

Rooftop solar systems are scarce but keep growing in Puerto Rico, where fossil fuels generate 94% of the island's electricity. At the time María hit, there were 8,000 rooftop installations, compared with more than 117,000 currently, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

Pierluisi announced late Tuesday that U.S. President Joe Biden had approved his request to use emergency FEMA funds if needed as a result of the tropical storm.

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Ernesto is the fifth named storm and the third hurricane of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season. Since 1966, only four other years have had three or more hurricanes in the Atlantic by mid-August, according to Philip Klotzbach, Colorado State University hurricane researcher.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year because of record warm ocean temperatures. It forecast 17 to 25 named storms, with four to seven major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.

Ernesto, now a hurricane, is drenching Puerto Rico and knocking out power (2024)

FAQs

Did Ernesto hit Puerto Rico? ›

Ernesto caused damage in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands last week. It passed north of the region as a tropical storm that managed to knock out power to hundreds of thousands of residents. At one point, 23 hospitals were operating on generators. Schools and numerous roads were also closed.

Was San Juan affected by hurricane Ernesto? ›

The center of then-Tropical Storm Ernesto passed within 40 miles of San Juan, Puerto Rico, early Wednesday, producing strong winds and heavy rain. More than 728,000 customers are without power in Puerto Rico, just shy of half the island, according to LUMA, a service provider.

How does a hurricane knock out power? ›

In these scenarios, increased rainfall clogs soil and weighs down tree canopies. Trees can easily uproot or become unstable, falling on power lines or causing landslides that knock out electric infrastructure.

What did Hurricane Maria do to Puerto Rico? ›

Some parts of the island received heavy rainfall, causing flash floods, seven rivers to overflow, and six landslides. About 25 to 30% of banana, coffee, papaya, and plantain crops were damaged. Before Hurricane Maria hit the island, approximately 80,000 people were still without power as Maria approached.

Is Ernesto a hurricane yet? ›

Ernesto lost its hurricane status Tuesday morning, but remains a strong post-tropical cyclone and is forecast to affect parts of the U.S. and Canada early this week. Ernesto first became a hurricane last week after swooping by Puerto Rico and then making landfall in Bermuda.

When was Ernesto hurricane? ›

In western Bermuda, Ernesto made landfall during the early morning of Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, as a Category 1 hurricane with 85 mph sustained wind and gusts near 100 mph, then downgraded to a tropical storm, but winds had picked up again and the system became a hurricane.

Where is Ernesto going to hit? ›

The hurricane center projects the storm will weaken to a post-tropical cyclone by Tuesday. Ernesto is forecast to swipe Newfoundland on Monday night and Tuesday before moving quickly across the Atlantic and hitting the British Isles by Wednesday night, according to the hurricane center and AccuWeather.

How bad was Hurricane Juan? ›

The Storm's Track

As it moved northward, across the mainland to the Bay of Fundy, windspeeds diminished to 130 kmph and by the time it had reached the Northumberland Strait windspeeds were down to 120 kmph. Highest sustained wind speeds at a land station were recorded at McNabs Island 151 kmph with gusts to 176 kmph.

When did Hurricane Juan end? ›

Should you turn your power off during a hurricane? ›

Manage Electricity Before a Hurricane

If flooding is expected, unplug all unnecessary electronic devices and monitor the situation. If emergency officials instruct you to turn off your electricity during a hurricane, you will need to turn it off at the circuit breaker. Use generators properly.

Will the power go out during the hurricane? ›

Power outages are more likely to occur during severe weather events (e.g., strong thunderstorms, hurricanes, and winter storms), or other natural disasters, such as wildfires. Severe weather can cause damage to energy infrastructure, such as through falling trees or branches on electricity lines.

Why do storms knock out power? ›

High winds during hurricanes (or other powerful storm systems) can lead to outages in a variety of ways. Some of the more common scenarios include falling trees bringing down power lines, lines making contact with one another or with tree limbs, and power poles getting knocked over.

What was the worst hurricane in Puerto Rico? ›

Hurricane Maria
Meteorological history
Highest winds175 mph (280 km/h)
Lowest pressure908 mbar (hPa); 26.81 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities3,059 total (direct and indirect)
11 more rows

Is Puerto Rico still recovering from the hurricane? ›

In September 2017, hurricanes Irma and Maria caused billions of dollars in damage to Puerto Rico's infrastructure, housing, and economy. Earthquakes in 2019 and 2020 caused additional damages. More than 6 years after hurricanes Irma and Maria, Puerto Rico's recovery is ongoing.

Did the hurricane hit Puerto Rico in 2024? ›

Ernesto is the fifth named storm to form in the tropical Atlantic in 2024 and has already caused severe disruption in Puerto Rico with almost 1 million people left without power as winds gusting more than 80mph battered the island.

What did Ernesto de la Cruz do to Miguel? ›

The villain of this story, Ernesto de la Cruz, stole and deceived his whole life in order to acquire great fame and fortune, but hurt many people in the process. At the beginning of the story, Ernesto is Miguel's idol, and when Miguel finally meets him, Ernesto throws Miguel into a pit.

Who accidentally discovered Puerto Rico? ›

Christopher Columbus arrived in Puerto Rico in 1493 during his second voyage to the New World. Under Spanish rule, the Island diversified its agriculture system, with sugar cane, coffee, and tobacco being among the Island's major exports.

Who won the battle of Puerto Rico? ›

U.S. victory in the war produced a peace treaty that compelled the Spanish to relinquish claims on Cuba, and to cede sovereignty over Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. The United States also annexed the independent state of Hawaii during the conflict.

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