The NBC2 First Alert Hurricane Team is tracking Hurricane Ernesto as it continues to gain strength.
As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center shows Ernesto with sustained winds of 75 mph. The storm continues to move quickly with more of a gradual turn to the north.
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Ernesto is forecast to move east of the Bahamas.
With the latest advisory, Ernesto is now forecast to intensify into a Major Category 3 storm as it moves in the general direction of Bermuda this weekend.
While the U.S. will not experience a direct threat from Ernesto, the storm will still increase the risk of rip currents and generate higher surf along the East Coast this weekend.
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Computer forecast models are in strong agreement on this northward turn, making this a high-confidence forecast in terms of the storm's track.
A front moving off the east coast of the U.S. will help deflect the storm away from the U.S. mainland, so the storm is not a threat to Florida.
The rest of the tropical Atlantic is quiet for now, but it's important to stay updated as we head into the peak of the hurricane season.
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