HOUSTON — The hurricane was located about 175 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.
Ernesto is forecast to move through open waters for the rest of the week and make its closest approach to Bermuda later today and tomorrow. It is expected to stay a strong Category 2 storm in the upcoming days and then weaken slightly as it nears Bermuda.
Forecasters also warned of heavy swells along the U.S. East Coast.
Ernesto is the fifth named storm of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season.
Beyond Ernesto, nothing is expected to develop in the Atlantic or Gulf over the next five to seven days. However, we are beginning to move into the peak of hurricane season, so make sure plans are in place in case a storm threatens.
Now that we are in mid-August, keep in mind that we are getting closer to the peak of hurricane season. August is when things usually start to ramp up, leading to a statistical peak of September 10. Storm activity peaks at this time because by then, sea surface temperatures have had several summer months to warm up, dust from the Sahara subsides and stronger tropical waves emerge off the west coast of Africa.
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.
