The Atlantic hurricane season continues to wreak havoc as Hurricane Ernesto makes landfall in Bermuda, leaving thousands without power and causing dangerous storm surges and flooding. The Category 1 storm brought winds of up to 140km/h to the British island territory, home to about 64,000 people. Ernesto is expected to slowly move away from Bermuda and head towards Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. The storm previously caused power outages in Puerto Rico, affecting hundreds of thousands of people.
In anticipation of the storm, officials in Bermuda suspended public transportation and closed the airport. National Security Minister Michael Weeks warned residents to take the storm seriously, as it poses a major threat to the community. In Puerto Rico, over 180,000 people were still without power, with another 170,000 lacking access to water. The situation was exacerbated by a severe heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service.
With Ernesto being the third hurricane of the season, experts predict that the Atlantic hurricane season will see above-average activity due to warm ocean temperatures. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecasted between 17 to 25 named storms, with four to seven major hurricanes. As recovery efforts continue in the impacted areas, residents are urged to remain vigilant and prepared for potential storms in the coming months.
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