ORLANDO, Fla. – Ernesto is expected to become a major hurricane by Friday on its path toward Bermuda, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Ernesto became a hurricane after bringing flooding rains across Puerto Rico.
As of Thursday morning, Ernesto has maximum sustained winds of 85 mph and was located about 550 miles south-southwest of Bermuda.
It is expected to become a major hurricane by Friday. A hurricane is considered a major hurricane when it reaches Category 3 status.
Here is what determines each category for a hurricane:
- Category 1: 74 to 95 mph sustained winds
- Category 2: 96 to 110 mph sustained winds
- Category 3: 111 to 129 mph sustained winds
- Category 4: 130 to 156 mph sustained winds
- Category 5: 157 mph or higher sustained winds
While no direct impacts are expected for the Sunshine State, rough surf and dangerous rip currents can be expected over the weekend.
“That means that anybody who goes to the beach, even if the weather is beautiful and nice, it could be dangerous (…) with those rip currents,” said Robbie Berg, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Hurricane Center.
Ernesto is the fifth named storm of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season.
Hurricane season runs through November.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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