Hurricane "Ernesto" is fast approaching Bermuda, while authorities in the small British territory in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean opened shelters and closed government offices, the Associated Press reported, as quoted by BTA.
Currently passing about 125 miles (205 km) south-southwest of Bermuda, the category two hurricane has maximum sustained winds of 155 km/h. It is moving north-northeast at 13 mph (about 20 km/h).
Up to 9 inches (about 230 mm) of rain is expected, Reuters reported.
The so-called eye of the hurricane "Ernesto" looks like it will pass very close to or over bermuda this morning.
According to the US National Hurricane Center, tropical storm conditions, including high winds and life-threatening flooding that began yesterday, are expected to continue into late evening.