Hurricane Ernesto is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane over the coming days as it travels northwards toward Bermuda, having already left the Virgin Islands without power on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. Photo: Fox News

A downed utility pole in the Ridge Road area of Tortola, Virgin Islands on August 14, 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters

Ernesto passed over the Virgin Islands as a tropical storm Tuesday night, August 13, 2024, leaving fallen trees and electrical poles and flooding in its path before doing the same in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Several areas of Tortola are still without power since Tuesday evening.

Ernesto packing gusts of 85 mph

According to the National Hurricane Center, Ernesto moved out of Puerto Rico Thursday morning, August 15, 2024, with wind gusts of 85 mph. It had brought almost 10 inches of rain to the island. It is expected to gather strength through the coming weekend, possibly growing from a Category 1 to Category 3 hurricane.

By Friday night, the storm is expected to approach Bermuda as a Category 2 hurricane with winds of up to 110 mph. Saturday will see conditions worsen, when the eye wall -- and the strongest winds -- may brush the island.

The approaching storm may also bring huge waves, storm surge and up to 12 inches of rain.

A hurricane warning has been issued for Bermuda.