Hurricane Ernesto regained strength in the Atlantic Ocean, reaching Category 1 hurricane status with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. The storm was located south of Halifax, Canada, moving at 17 mph. It was forecasted to weaken back into a tropical storm by Tuesday, passing near southeastern Newfoundland. The East Coast faced life-threatening surf and rip currents with beaches in New York City and New Jersey closed to swimming. In Atlantic City, coastal flooding was expected due to high seas. Two men drowned in rip currents off Hilton Head, South Carolina on Friday. A stilted home collapsed into the ocean waves in Rodanthe, North Carolina, but no injuries were reported. National Weather Service issued advisories for life-threatening rip currents along the North Carolina coast. NOAA buoys measured wave heights of 5 to 6 feet from North Carolina to Rhode Island. Coastal flood advisories were in effect for 10 million people, covering areas from Bermuda to Canada. Overall, the East Coast faced dangerous conditions due to Hurricane Ernesto’s impact.
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Ernesto Strengthens to Hurricane Status, Bringing Dangerous Surf and Rip Currents to East Coast
