According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Hurricane Ernesto is expected to send strong surf and rip currents to the U.S. East Coast early this week.
While NHC meteorologists expect Ernesto to remain well offshore of the U.S. East Coast, the swell generated by the Category 1 hurricane – a massive group of waves that can travel thousands of miles through waterways – could impact the region.
Hurricane forecasters warned beachgoers in a weather forecast Monday morning to beware of “life-threatening” surf and current conditions. Such currents could also hit the Bahamas, Bermuda and Atlantic Canada in the coming days.
The Category 1 hurricane is moving through the Atlantic with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. Ernesto poses no immediate threat to Louisiana.
Winds and currents generated by the hurricane hit North Carolina beaches this weekend. A 57-year-old man drowned Saturday due to surf rip currents in Surf City, North Carolina, according to data from the National Weather Service.
Last Monday, Ernesto became the fifth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, following Tropical Storm Alberto, Hurricane Beryl, Tropical Storm Chris and Hurricane Debby.
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