Hurricane Ernesto is gaining strength over the record-warm waters of the Atlantic, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake as it heads towards Bermuda and poses a significant coastal threat to the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. After battering Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Ernesto is expected to become a major hurricane - potentially reaching Category 3 or higher - before making landfall in Bermuda early on Saturday.

The forecasted path of Hurricane Ernesto has resulted in a hurricane warning being issued for Bermuda. As it moves across the Atlantic, Ernesto will be fueled by the exceptionally warm ocean temperatures, a clear symptom of the ongoing global warming caused by fossil fuel pollution. This rapid intensification is unusual for this time of year, with the second major hurricane of the season typically not occurring until mid-September, if at all.

Although the eye of the hurricane is projected to move near or over Bermuda on Saturday, the island is anticipated to experience the impact of powerful wind gusts and heavy rainfall even before that. Starting from Friday morning, drenching rain and tropical storm-force wind gusts are expected to commence, potentially lasting until Saturday night. There is a possibility of the island receiving 4 to 8 inches of rainfall, with isolated areas potentially experiencing up to a foot, leading to potential life-threatening flash floods, warned the National Hurricane Center.

Apart from Bermuda, Ernesto's wide-reaching effects are anticipated to extend even to areas far from large land masses. The hurricane is projected to generate massive waves, up to 40 feet high, in the open Atlantic. These elevated wave heights will bring rough seas and dangerous rip currents to the US East Coast, the Bahamas, and parts of the Caribbean into early next week. As a result, the National Weather Service has issued a warning about the high likelihood of very dangerous rip currents over the weekend, coinciding with the time when many people typically visit the beach. It is important to note that rip currents can be extremely hazardous, and this year alone, they have claimed the lives of at least 29 individuals in the US and its territories, according to the National Weather Service.

Following its impact on Bermuda and the US East Coast, Hurricane Ernesto is expected to move close to Atlantic Canada early next week. Although the extent of its impact is uncertain at this time, there is a possibility of some rainfall, wind, and rough seas.

Ernesto, despite not making direct landfall on Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands, managed to cause significant damage and power outages to both areas. In Puerto Rico, nearly half of all customers were without power at one point, with over 400,000 customers still affected as of Thursday morning. Similarly, approximately 29,000 customers in the US Virgin Islands were without power on Thursday morning. Moreover, heavy rainfall led to widespread flooding in Puerto Rico, with some areas receiving over 10 inches of rain within a 24-hour period, aggravating water-related issues and impacting water filtration processes.

As the trajectory of Hurricane Ernesto continues to be closely monitored, authorities are urging residents in Bermuda and along the US East Coast to stay informed, prepare for severe weather conditions, and heed any evacuation orders for their safety.