The NBC2 First Alert Hurricane Team is tracking Hurricane Ernesto as it continues to gain strength over the western Atlantic.
As of 11 a.m., Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center shows Ernesto with sustained winds of 85 mph and gusts up to 105 mph. The storm has slowed a little overnight but is now moving due north at 14 mph.
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Ernesto is still over 500 miles from Bermuda but is expected to slide very close if not over the archipelago this weekend.
With the latest advisory, Ernesto is no forecast to intensify into a Category 2 storm as it moves in the general direction of Bermuda this weekend. It is no longer expected to reach major status but will be shy of reaching those winds.
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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