Ernesto Becomes A Hurricane After Pummeling Northeast Caribbean

CARIBBEAN – Hurricane Ernesto slammed Puerto Rico Wednesday, leaving nearly half of the island without power and dropping torrential rain.

The storm, now 225 miles northwest of San Juan, has sustained winds of 75 mph and is moving toward Bermuda, where it could become a major hurricane.

Over 700,000 customers in Puerto Rico are without electricity, and schools and government offices remain closed. Heavy flooding has led to road closures, and more than 140 flights have been canceled.

Ernesto is expected to impact Bermuda by Friday, with warnings of dangerous swells along the U.S. East Coast.