Ernesto strengthened into a hurricane as it moved further into the Atlantic towards easternmost Canada. The storm was forecasted to stay offshore but would cause strong swells, dangerous surf, and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center. In a separate storm event, heavy rain up to 10 inches resulted in road washouts, basement flooding, and emergency rescues in Connecticut, as reported by the National Weather Service.

Ernesto’s maximum sustained winds increased to around 85 mph (140 kph) with higher gusts overnight, stated the hurricane center, anticipating the storm to weaken and transition into a post-tropical storm by Tuesday. The hurricane was positioned about 340 miles (550 kilometers) south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was predicted to pass near southeastern Newfoundland by late Monday or early Tuesday, potentially causing coastal flooding in Canada. The center advised caution for residents along the Northeast coast.

The hurricane center warned of life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along portions of the Bahamas, Bermuda, the U.S. East Coast, and the Canadian Atlantic coast due to swells generated by Ernesto. The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood advisory and highlighted a high risk of rip currents along the Atlantic Coast through Monday evening, extending from Florida to the Boston area and parts of Maine.

In Connecticut, slow-moving storms resulted in heavy rainfall causing flooding and rescue operations. Two individuals were swept away by flooding in Oxford, with rescue efforts ongoing. Firefighters rescued numerous people trapped in a flooded restaurant in Beacon Falls, expressing concerns about the building’s structural integrity due to the rising waters.

Flash flood warnings were in effect for sections of Connecticut and southeastern New York, while flood watches and advisories were issued for Delaware, New Jersey, and southeastern Pennsylvania. Meteorologists expected the risk of flash flooding to diminish throughout the day with dry conditions expected for the rest of the week.

Ernesto had initially weakened to a tropical storm after impacting Bermuda over the weekend, causing heavy rain and strong winds. No major incidents were reported in Bermuda. Prior to reaching Bermuda, Ernesto had impacted the northeastern Caribbean, leaving thousands without water in Puerto Rico.

Following cleanup efforts, public schools in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico were scheduled to resume operations, nearly a week after the original start date.