Tropical Storm Ernesto is forecast to become a hurricane again Sunday as it heads toward Canada's Newfoundland in the Atlantic.
Ernesto made landfall in Bermuda early Saturday morning as a Category 1 hurricane, bringing "hazardous weather" before weakening to a tropical storm later that night along its exit path.
By 11 p.m., the storm was headed away from the island toward the north-northeast at a casual pace of 8 mph, the center said.
It was about 590 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Sunday morning, moving north-northeast at an accelerated speed of 16 mph with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.
"Some intensification is possible Sunday and Sunday night, and Ernesto could regain hurricane status," the hurricane center said in an update on Ernesto. "The cyclone will likely become post-tropical near southeastern Newfoundland by Monday night or Tuesday morning."
The center of Ernesto is expected to pass near southeastern Newfoundland late Monday into Tuesday morning, according to the hurricane center.
"Only Canadian impacts expected are moderate to heavy surf along the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia, and some rain and moderate winds to southeasternmost Newfoundland," Environment Canada said in an update Sunday." Large waves can be expected there later in the day on Monday."
In Nova Scotia, "moderate to heavy surf conditions with a risk of rip currents along the Atlantic Coast of the province tonight and Monday," are expected," according to Environment Canada. Rain is also forecast for the province Sunday night and Monday.
"Ernesto will be transitioning into a post-tropical storm as it passes south of the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland later Monday," Environment Canada said. "It may pass close enough, however, to bring some rain and wind to portions of the Avalon Peninsula, and to a lesser extent the Bonavista and Burin peninsulas."
Coastal flooding resulting from large waves are also forecast along the southern Avalon Peninsula and Placentia Bay, which can cause damage to docks and other structures along the coast.
A tropical storm warning is no longer in effect in Bermuda, where 7 to 9 inches of rain was expected to bring “life-threatening” flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas, the hurricane center said Saturday. Flooding along the coast was also possible on the island, paired with “large and destructive waves.”
In a statement Saturday morning, the government of Bermuda warned that although the eye of the storm had moved north of the island, the southern eye wall was still expected to make its impact.
“Do not be fooled by winds not ramping up quickly... we still have the 2nd half of Ernesto set to move over us,” the government said on X.
As of Sunday afternoon, more than 10,000 utility customers still do not have power, or about 34% of the island, according to the Bermuda Electric Light Co. The company is continuing its restoration efforts Sunday.
There have not been reports of any major damage in Bermuda yet, officials said, but emergency services have also been on limited patrols due to the strong winds.
Video captured by an NBC News crew in Hamilton, the island’s capital city, showed some debris, including downed palm fronds and tree branches, but no damage to buildings. In Southhampton, strong winds could be seen blowing through the palm trees. There were also downed trees, power lines and branches in the area.
Clean up efforts were underway Sunday afternoon on the island.
Dangerous beach conditions, including large waves and rip currents, are expected along the East Coast and Atlantic Canada until early next week. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration buoys overnight measured waves of 7 feet off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and 6 feet off Montauk Point, Long Island.
New York City officials concerned about storm-agitated rip currents said Queens and Brooklyn beaches are closed to swimming through the end of the day Sunday. Authorities herded people onto dry sand on Saturday.
"They were suddenly ushering people out of the water," Coney Island beachgoer Felia Williams of Astoria told NBC New York.
