Hurricane Ernesto moves through Bermuda as a category one storm

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Ernesto made landfall on the tiny British Atlantic territory of Bermuda early Saturday as residents continued to hunker down.

The hurricane is now exhibiting a large rain-free centre region that is just about to move past Bermuda, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The eye has expanded and Ernesto has slowed down, though the second half of the storm is set to move over Bermuda Saturday afternoon.

The wide category one storm has maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph). The US National Hurricane Center warned of strong winds, a dangerous storm surge and significant coastal flooding.

It said some 6 to 9 inches (150-225 millimetres) of rain was expected to fall on Bermuda. "This rainfall will likely result in considerable life-threatening flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas on the island," the center said.

Due to the large size of the storm and its slow movement, hurricane-strength winds are expected to continue until Saturday afternoon, with tropical storm-strength winds continuing well into Sunday, the Bermuda government said. Ernesto is moving toward the north-northeast at around 9 mph (15 kph).

A Saturday morning update from the Bermuda Weather Service said a Hurricane warning remains in effect.

"We want to reiterate the storm is not over," said National Security Minister Michael Weeks.

The Minister said that currently the Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO) is receiving damage assessments as reports from overnight come into the Operations Group. They have not received any reports of any major damage yet.

The NHC reported life-threatening surf and rip currents on the east coast of the United States and said they would reach Canada during the day. The centre of Ernesto will slowly move away from Bermuda Saturday and pass near southeastern Newfoundland late Monday and Monday night, said the center.

Bermuda power utility BELCO said that as of Saturday afternoon, more than 26,000 customers were out of power.

Lana Morris, manager of Edgehill Manor Guest House in Bermuda said that conditions are calm, though the wind has started to pick up again.

"I spoke to my guests, they told me they still have electricity, they have running water, and are comfortable."

Morris said she has been communicating with her guests via phone.

"They do not have Internet — but if the network is down, it's down. They are safe and I'm happy with that."

Bermuda is an archipelago of 181 tiny islands whose total land mass is roughly the size of Manhattan.

According to AccuWeather, it's uncommon for the eye of a hurricane to make landfall in Bermuda. It noted that, before today, since 1850 only 11 of 130 tropical storms that came within 100 miles (160 kilometres) of Bermuda had landfall.

The island is a renowned offshore financial centre with sturdy construction, and given its elevation, storm surge is not as problematic as it is with low-lying islands.

Ernesto previously battered the northeast Caribbean, where it left tens of thousands of people without water in Puerto Rico as the National Weather Service issued yet another severe heat advisory, warning of "dangerously hot and humid conditions."

More than 115,000 out of nearly 1.5 million clients were still without power more than two days after the storm. Another 170,000 were without water as the National Weather Service issued yet another severe heat advisory, warning of "dangerously hot and humid conditions."

Ernesto is the fifth named storm and the third hurricane of this year's Atlantic hurricane season.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year because of record warm ocean temperatures. It forecast 17 to 25 named storms, with four to seven major hurricanes.

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