Ernesto strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday

Article first published: Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, 5 a.m. ET

Article last updated: Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, 5 p.m. ET

As per the National Hurricane Center's 5 pm Sunday update, Ernesto has become a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 75 mph after intensifying from a tropical storm.

Category 1 Hurricane Ernesto is 520 miles south of Halifax Nova Scotia and 815 miles southwest of Cape Race Newfoundland, with maximum sustained wind of 75 mph. It’s moving 17 mph to the north-northeast.

"... the center of Ernesto will pass near southeastern Newfoundland late Monday into Tuesday morning." forecasters noted. "Some additional intensification is forecast over the next 12 hours followed by weakening before Ernesto becomes a post-tropical cyclone on Tuesday."

YESTERDAY (Saturday):

Yesterday, Ernesto after it first crossed the Atlantic Ocean, departed Bermuda and moved toward the Atlantic Ocean. The Category 1 hurricane Ernesto weakened into a tropical storm.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND:

SURF: Swells generated by Ernesto are affecting portions of the Bahamas, Bermuda, the east coast of the United States, and Atlantic Canada. Life-threatening surf and rip current conditions are likely to continue in these areas during the next couple of days. In southeastern Newfoundland large breaking waves could bring the possibility of coastal flooding, particularly along southwest-facing shorelines from Burin east to Avalon regions.

Source: National Hurricane Center

This story was originally published August 18, 2024 at 9:57 AM.