Hurricane Ernesto Sparks Warnings Along East Coast

As millions of Americans head to the beach for one last summer getaway, Tropical Storm Ernesto has transformed back into a hurricane, prompting serious safety warnings along the Atlantic coast.

The National Hurricane Center has issued alerts about ‘life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,’ advising beachgoers to stay out of the water when lifeguards advise it. Multiple National Weather Service offices from New Jersey to Florida are cautioning swimmers about dangerous rip currents this weekend.

Ernesto, which was located about 520 miles south of Halifax, Canada, saw its winds pick up from 70 to 75 mph. This places it just above the threshold for a Category 1 hurricane. The storm is expected to move north-northeast at 17 mph and gain speed as it changes direction toward the east-northeast in the coming days.

Tragically, at least three deaths have already been linked to Ernesto. Two men drowned off Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, and a swimmer was found unresponsive in Surf City, North Carolina.

The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation has taken precautionary measures by banning swimming at beaches in Queens and Brooklyn. In New Jersey, officials are urging beachgoers to refrain from swimming when lifeguards are not present.

North Carolina’s Outer Banks town of Rodanthe has seen significant damage, with reports of houses being swept into the ocean. Rescue efforts have been ramped up as numerous incidents involving rip currents have been reported, particularly in Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach.

Meanwhile, in Bermuda, where Ernesto made landfall earlier, the storm caused considerable disruption but thankfully resulted in no major injuries. About three-quarters of the island lost power, but many residents heeded government warnings to stay indoors during the most intense part of the storm.

As Ernesto progresses into the Atlantic, regions in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland are bracing for heavy surf and potential coastal flooding due to large waves and winds, particularly around the Avalon Peninsula.