A hurricane warning was issued for Bermuda early Wednesday evening as Ernesto – the third hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season – is expected to strengthen over the western Atlantic, the National Hurricane Center said in its latest update.

Tropical storm warnings are no longer in effect for Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, but there is a risk of flash floods and landslides in these areas due to heavy rainfall, the Hurricane Center warned on Wednesday afternoon.

Nearly half of the island, more than 716,000 customers, were without power as of 4:15 p.m. local time, while over 340,000 customers were without water as of 4:20 p.m. local time, according to a Puerto Rico emergency portal system. President Biden has approved federal aid requested by Puerto Rico’s governor.

Meanwhile, cruise lines such as Carnival, Celebrity and Norwegian, whose ships plan to sail to the northern Caribbean, have reportedly adjusted their itineraries to avoid Ernesto.

Where exactly is the storm?

At 5:00 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time, Ernesto’s center was located approximately 765 miles south-southwest of Bermuda.

Maximum sustained wind speeds were approximately 75 mph, with the storm moving northwest at 16 mph.

What observations and warnings are there?

Bermuda is currently under a Hurricane Warning, meaning that hurricane conditions are expected in the area within the next 48 hours.

There is no longer a tropical storm warning in effect for Puerto Rico, the United States and the British Virgin Islands. According to the Hurricane Center, no coastal watches or warnings are in effect.

What are the biggest risks associated with Ernesto?

The biggest concerns include heavy rainfall, flash floods and mudslides.

Rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches are possible in Bermuda, with some areas seeing a maximum of 9 inches.

Meanwhile, southern and eastern Puerto Rico are expected to receive rainfall amounts between 6 and 10 inches, with some areas receiving up to 12 inches. Northwestern Puerto Rico may receive rainfall amounts between 3 and 6 inches.

Parts of the United States and the British Virgin Islands could see rainfall amounts of 10 to 15 centimeters.

Ernesto’s swell, which can cause life-threatening surf and current conditions, is affecting parts of the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Turks and Caicos. The swell is also expected to affect the east coast of the United States and Bermuda later this week and into the weekend.

What damage did Ernesto cause?

Little by little, photos are emerging showing the damage caused by Ernesto’s heavy rains and strong winds in Puerto Rico:

This is an ongoing story, please refresh the page to get the latest updates.