Ernesto approaching Bermuda, and it will fire off rough seas and dangerous rip currents on the East Coast this weekend

Headlines

  • Ernesto now beginning to bear down on Bermuda.
  • Heavy rain, strong winds likely well into tomorrow there, as Ernesto slows down and crawls past.
  • Ernesto will brush Newfoundland on the way out to sea next week.
  • Dangerous rip currents likely up and down the East Coast this weekend with Ernesto’s large size and waves.

Ernesto on approach to Bermuda

Hurricane Ernesto is now a category 2 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph — probably. Ernesto is not the healthiest hurricane we’ve ever seen, but it’s a large one.

Ernesto is clearly feeling the presence of some wind shear and maybe a little lingering dry air as it approaches Bermuda. (Tropical Tidbits)

Ernesto is loaded with moisture, and the wind field is enormous. Tropical storm force winds extend out 275 miles from the center. What Ernesto may lack in intensification it more than makes up for in size. Conditions are beginning to go downhill on Bermuda this afternoon, and that will continue into tonight, as evidenced by a lot of rain (and embedded wind) showing up just south of the island.

Radar snapshot of Ernesto’s rains closing in on Bermuda this afternoon. (Bermuda Weather Service)

So even if Ernesto weakens over the next day or so, it will pack plenty of punch on Bermuda, particularly due to the duration of the storm. Ernesto will slow down a good bit through Sunday before picking back up forward speed and accelerating out to sea and weakening once more.

Ernesto will move sluggishly through Sunday before picking up a lot of forward speed Monday and Tuesday and accelerating out to sea. A close brush with Newfoundland cannot be ruled out. (NOAA NHC)

As Ernesto passes Newfoundland, likely just to the south, some impacts are possible there as well, though they would probably hit and exit quickly. Tropical storm force winds and locally heavy rainfall are the main concerns.

In addition to Ernesto as a hurricane, we continue to advertise the extremely rough surf and rip current risk up and down the East Coast that’s expected this weekend. With a wind field of 275 miles, you can bet that Ernesto will be churning out some waves. Dangerous rip current risk will be moderate to high along virtually the entire East Coast by tomorrow and Sunday.

A significant rip current event is likely this weekend on the East Coast due to Ernesto’s large size and waves. (NWS Morehead City)

We again urge folks to use caution in the water this weekend.

Behind Ernesto, we continue to advertise calm for next week. We’ll talk more about that next week and assess when it could change.

2 thoughts on “Ernesto approaching Bermuda, and it will fire off rough seas and dangerous rip currents on the East Coast this weekend”

  1. The CFS Weekly wind shear forecast for the northern Gulf looks very encouraging the next six weeks. Hopefully we will see less RI before storms reach the coast.

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