Category 1 Hurricane Ernesto Forecast to Explode as it Moves Toward Bermuda

Hurricane Ernesto is predicted to continue to strengthen as it churns through the Caribbean and threatens Bermuda and Atlantic Canada in the coming days. Here is what you can expect out of this tropical weather maker.

Ernesto Knocks Out Power to Nearly Half of Puerto Rico

Ernesto is living up to its predictions of strengthening into a major hurricane as it picks up more intensity from the warm waters of the Caribbean. The storm took aim at Puerto Rico on Wednesday as a category 1 storm.

By the time Ernesto pulled away, over 73,000 customers were in the dark, translating to about half of the island. Ernesto delivered up to 6 inches of rain as the outer bands of the storm sideswiped Puerto Rico.

Although Ernesto lost a bit of punch when it traveled over the mountainous terrain of Puerto Rico late Tuesday, it was able to pick up more steam when it found the exceptionally warm waters of the Atlantic basin.

The central pressure within Ernesto dipped downward on Wednesday morning, sending signals that it was strengthening. Experts with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) watch the central pressure numbers with a dropping measurement meaning that winds are likely to increase in the short term.

The cleanup efforts across the island will be more challenging in light of the heat and humidity left behind by Ernesto. Real feel readings will climb over the century mark on Thursday through the weekend in San Juan. Overnight lows will remain elevated, making it difficult to cool homes without power.

Flooding is also a serious concern in Puerto Rico. The Rio De La Plata River at Comerio rose 10 feet in a period of just one hour, putting it at major flooding stage. More than 11 inches of rain was recorded at Aibonito and Villalba.

Officials also confirmed at least a half of a dozen mudslides or landslides, trapping residents in their homes and vehicles. Despite Ernesto moving away from the island, storm surge of at least 3 to 6 feet is in the forecast for some parts of Puerto Rico.

The U.S. Virgin Islands have also been impacted by Ernesto's track. As of early Thursday, about 65% of the islands were without power. St. John and St. Croix reported island-wide blackouts in the aftermath of Ernesto.