Ernesto brings torrential rainfall to Puerto Rico, threatens Bermuda

Tropical Storm Ernesto battered eastern Puerto Rico with a torrential amount of rain early Wednesday morning (Aug. 14), according to the U.S.-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC).

Ernesto is now a Category 1 hurricane and is expected to become a major hurricane by Friday morning, according to the latest advisory to the NHC. 

Ernesto's sustained winds have hit 75 mph, making it a Category 1 storm. Models show it becoming a "large and powerful hurricane" and "becoming quite a bit larger," forecasters with the Hurricane Center said.

Storm-forced winds extended up to 115 miles from Ernesto’s centre and are reportedly shooting gusty wind blasts around the region. A 65 mph gust in Saint Barthélemy, or St. Bart’s, occurred when Ernesto was about 100 miles away, reports say.

Bands of soaking rain packing strong winds continue to spread through Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, the Weather Network reported early Wednesday. Flash flood warnings are also in effect for Puerto Rico.

Bermuda is said be Ernesto next target, then possibly Atlantic Canada, the Weather Network says.

The hurricane is expected to continue tracking in a northerly direction over the next several days. 

This northward turn is also occurring soon enough to keep Ernesto away from the U.S. East Coast, forecasters say

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.