Draft:Hurricane Ernesto (2024)

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Hurricane Ernesto
Ernesto intensifying north of Puerto Rico on August 14
Meteorological history
FormedAugust 12, 2024
Category 1 hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds80 mph (130 km/h)
Lowest pressure981 mbar (hPa); 28.97 inHg
Overall effects
FatalitiesNone
DamageUnknown
Areas affectedLeeward Islands, Greater Antilles
Part of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Ernesto is a currently active Catergory 1 Atlantic hurricane. The fifth named storm and third hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Ernesto developed from tropical wave the east of the Leeward Islands.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On August 8, the NHC noted that an area of low pressure could form in the central or tropical Atlantic.[1] Later that day, they began tracking a tropical wave southwest of Cabo Verde.[2] Shower activity associated with the wave began increasing two days later,[3] later showing signs of organization on August 11.[4] As a result, later that day, the disturbance developed into a low-pressure area.[5] As the system was expected to impact the Leeward Islands, it was designated Potential Tropical Cyclone Five soon after.[6] The next day, the system organized enough to become a tropical storm, being named Ernesto.[7]

Preparations

A tropical storm warning was issued in preparation for Ernesto in both the British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.[8] One was also issued in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, the French West Indies (apart from Martinique), Sint Maarten, and United States Virgin Islands.[9]

Leeward Islands

Orange alerts were issued for the French territories of Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy. The offices of France Travail closed on August 13 with remaining teams mobilized via telephone.[10] In Sint Maarten, the Dutch portion of Saint Martin, Princess Juliana International Airport closed at 10 a.m. on August 13 and reopened the following day.[11] Schools in the territory were closed. Prime Minister Luc Mercelina ordered political parties and businesses to remove billboards and other apparatus from public roads.[12] The VC Bird International Airport in Antigua closed on the night of August 12 and reopened the following afternoon.[13] The island’s police commissioner held an emergency meeting to plan the police force’s responsibilities during the storm.[14]

Greater Antilles

Gov. Pedro Pierluisi mobilized the Puerto Rico National Guard on Monday ahead of the arrival of the storm. The government also delayed the start of classes for public schools and froze prices for essential goods, while municipal mayors activated emergency plans. Juan Saca, who presides over LUMA Energy, the private company in charge of electricity distribution and transmission in Puerto Rico, said at the Monday press conference that there were over 1,000 workers and more than $200 million worth of supplies ready to respond to the storm, as well as contractors that can support the company’s operations. However, he admitted that outages would happen should tropical storm conditions occur, as the National Hurricane Center has forecast they will. [15]

Impact

Leeward Islands

A gust of 56 miles per hour (90 km/h) was recorded in Saint Barthélemy and 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) in Saint Martin.[16]

Several main roads on the island of Guadeloupe were closed due to the storm.[17] Sustained winds on the island of Culebra reached 86 mph (138 km/h),[18] where downed trees blocked roads and roofs were blown off. More than 45,000 customers lost power in the Virgin Islands[19] as a result of hurricane force wind gusts. The entirety of Saint Croix and Saint Thomas lost electricity.[18] Over 728,000 households in Puerto Rico lost power, around half of the island. An additional 235,000 households suffered water outages.[20]

Power outages occured in Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands and Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. All schools were closed prior to the storms arrival.[21]

Greater Antilles

Sustained winds on the island of Culebra reached 86 mph (138 km/h),[18] where downed trees blocked roads and roofs were blown off. More than 45,000 customers lost power in the Virgin Islands[19] as a result of hurricane force wind gusts. The entirety of Saint Croix and Saint Thomas lost electricity.[18] Over 728,000 households in Puerto Rico lost power, around half of the island. An additional 235,000 households suffered water outages.[22]

References

  1. ^ Bucci, Lisa (August 8, 2024). Atlantic 7-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  2. ^ Zelinsky, D. (August 8, 2024). Atlantic 7-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  3. ^ Beven, Jack (August 10, 2024). Atlantic 7-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  4. ^ Papin, Philippe (August 11, 2024). Atlantic 7-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  5. ^ Cangialosi, John (August 11, 2024). Atlantic 7-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  6. ^ Potential Tropical Cyclone Five Discussion Number 1 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  7. ^ Tropical Storm Ernesto Discussion Number 5 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  8. ^ Gilbert, Mary (2024-08-12). "Tropical Storm Ernesto is headed for Puerto Rico. Here's where it could go next". CNN. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  9. ^ "Tropical Storm ERNESTO". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  10. ^ "Tempête Ernesto : Saint-Martin a été placée en vigilance orange". Soualiga Post (in French). August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  11. ^ "Princess Juliana International Airport to close due to storm". Loop Carribbean News. August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  12. ^ "Schools closed in Sint Maarten due to approaching weather system". Loop News Carribbean. August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  13. ^ "VC Bird International Airport closes tonight due to the storm". Loop News Caribbean. August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  14. ^ "Police hold emergency meeting ahead of pending storm". The Antigua Observer. August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  15. ^ "'There will be power service interruptions': Puerto Rico braces for Tropical Storm Ernesto". August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  16. ^ "Tropical Storm blows into Caribbean with target set on Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico". Orlando Sentinel. 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  17. ^ "Tropical Storm Ernesto hits Caribbean and intensifies en route to Puerto Rico". The Guardian. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Associated Press. August 13, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  18. ^ a b c d Christopher Cann; Thao Nguyen; Krystal Nurse (August 14, 2024). "Ernesto intensifies into Category 1 hurricane north of Puerto Rico". USA Today. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference TWCErnesto1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Nadine El-Bawab; Max Golembo; Melissa Griffin (August 14, 2024). "Ernesto becomes hurricane after leaving 728,000 without power in Puerto Rico". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  21. ^ "Tropical Storm Ernesto drenches northeast Caribbean and takes aim at Puerto Rico". AP News. 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  22. ^ Nadine El-Bawab; Max Golembo; Melissa Griffin (August 14, 2024). "Ernesto becomes hurricane after leaving 728,000 without power in Puerto Rico". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
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