Hurricane Ernesto made landfall on the British Atlantic territory of Bermuda early Saturday, causing widespread damage and leaving residents without power. The Category 1 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph), directly hit the wealthy territory, prompting the U.S. National Hurricane Center to issue warnings of strong winds, a dangerous storm surge, and significant coastal flooding.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Bermuda was expected to receive between 6 to 9 inches (150-225 millimeters) of rain, leading to potentially life-threatening flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas. Due to the storm's large size and slow movement, hurricane-strength winds were expected to continue until Saturday afternoon, followed by tropical storm-strength winds persisting well into Sunday.

As a result of the storm, Bermuda Power Utility (BELCO) reported that more than three-quarters of its customers were without power, leaving the territory in an "active state of crisis." BELCO stated that their crews had been forced to halt restoration efforts due to safety concerns and would resume work when conditions improved.

In preparation for Hurricane Ernesto, public transportation was suspended, and the airport was closed in Bermuda. National Security Minister Michael Weeks emphasized the severity of the storm, urging residents to take it seriously. Bermuda, an archipelago composed of 181 tiny islands, faced a rare occurrence as the eye of a hurricane made landfall on the territory.

Ernesto had previously impacted the northeast Caribbean, leaving Puerto Rico in a state of devastation. Hundreds of thousands of people in Puerto Rico were without power or water as the storm swept through as a tropical storm. More than two days later, over 180,000 customers were still without power, and an additional 170,000 lacked water supply. Restoration efforts were underway, with officials aiming to restore power to 90 percent of customers by Sunday.

Meanwhile, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, crews were also working to restore power, with 80 percent of customers already back online. Ernesto marks the fifth named storm and the third hurricane of this year's Atlantic hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted an above-average hurricane season due to record warm ocean temperatures, forecasting between 17 to 25 named storms, including four to seven major hurricanes.

As Hurricane Ernesto heads towards Newfoundland by Monday night, the U.S National Hurricane Center has issued warnings of life-threatening surf and rip currents along the East Coast of the United States and in Canada. Although the storm continues to present challenges, efforts to mitigate its impact and restore essential services are underway in affected areas.