MIAMI, Aug 18, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Hurricane Ernesto was downgraded to a
tropical storm Saturday after it lashed Bermuda with heavy rains and strong
winds, leaving much of the British Atlantic Ocean territory without power
before continuing on its path toward eastern Canada.

The hurricane, which hit Puerto Rico earlier this week, "will move away from
Bermuda" Saturday night but would still create tropical storm conditions,
according to the US-based National Hurricane Center.

It warned that it was possible for the storm to intensify on Sunday "and
Ernesto could regain hurricane status."

It made landfall in Bermuda at 5:30 am local time (0830 GMT) packing maximum
sustained winds of 85 miles (137 kilometers) per hour, the NHC said.

"As Ernesto moves further away to the northeast, occasional squally showers
from the west will continue to wet the Island," the Bermuda Weather Service
said Saturday night, warning that seas would remain hazardous through the
night.

The island was expected to see "drier and brighter weather" on Sunday as
Ernesto moved northeast and passed near southeastern Newfoundland late
Monday.

Ernesto was located some 100 miles northeast of the island around midnight
local time and was expected to dump seven to nine inches (175 to 225
millimeters) of rain on Bermuda overall.

"This rainfall will likely result in considerable life-threatening flash
flooding to the island, especially in low-lying areas," the NHC said.

The storm had left some 18,300 customers without electricity, Bermuda's power
firm Belco reported, or more than 50 percent of its customers on the island
with a population of 64,000.

Images on social media showed downed trees blocking roads, power lines
damaged by the storm's high winds and flooded roads.

Ahead of the storm's arrival, Bermudians prepared Friday by hauling boats out
of the ocean, boarding up windows, filling bathtubs with water, and stocking
up on batteries and food supplies.

"Even though we have been downgraded from hurricane to tropical storm, we
must remember that some gusts will be intense," Minister of National Security
Michael Weeks said Saturday, according to The Royal Gazette newspaper.

"There are a lot of downed wires and foliage, so the situation can be
dangerous," he added.

Some key roads were closed and bus and ferry services were suspended, the
paper said.

Bermuda's L.F. Wade International Airport said it would remain shut until
Sunday after the storm had passed.

Ernesto was moving northeast and expected to slowly depart Bermuda Saturday
and move near or east of Newfoundland in eastern Canada on Monday night, the
NHC said.

It warned that dangerous beach conditions are expected along the US East
Coast through next week.