Overview
Hurricane Ernesto struck Bermuda as a Category 1 hurricane on August 17, 2024. Despite a direct hit, structural loss was minimal thanks to the island’s stringent building codes and the storm’s moderate intensity. Recovery was rapid, with the event marked by 85 mph winds, 5.4 plus inches of rainfall, and a one-to-two-foot storm surge. Total economic impact is estimated at less than 1% of Bermuda’s GDP.
On Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 a.m. local time (08:30 UTC), the center of Hurricane Ernesto crossed the 21-square-mile island of Bermuda. This was the fifth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season.
According to data from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Ernesto maintained Category 1 status at the time of landfall, sustained by maximum winds of 85 miles per hour (137 km/h). As the eyewall traversed the territory, a weather station at L.F. Wade International Airport recorded a peak wind gust of 84 miles per hour (135 km/h).
Prior to making landfall on August 16, Ernesto had intensified into a Category 2 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean. At the time, it was 215 miles away from making landfall, with sustained winds reaching 100 mph (155 km/h).
However, the storm underwent slight weakening as it approached the island, mitigating the potential for widespread catastrophic wind damage.
Hurricane Ernesto’s storm surge and precipitation
Ernesto was marked by not only high winds, but also hydrological phenomena:
Storm surge: Tidal gauges around St. George Island recorded surge levels 1 to 2 feet above Mean Higher High Water (MHHW), resulting in the inundation of low-lying coastal sectors.
Precipitation: On August 16 alone, the Bermuda Weather Service recorded 5.4 inches of rainfall. Cumulative totals across the island ranged from 6 to 12 inches, with isolated higher accumulations leading to flash flooding in inland basins.
What were the damages and economic losses associated with Hurricane Ernesto?
Cotality’s post-storm analysis indicates that insurable losses across the territory were minimal, estimated at less than 1% of Bermuda’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Minimal fallout proves the success of local building codes
Damage surveys after Hurricane Fabian noted that the predominant building style in Bermuda—such as limestone and concrete block buildings—successfully withstood wind damage. However, the hurricane winds did damage the more traditional Bermuda-style limestone slate roofs, especially on the windward side of the building where winds pushed up on the roof, separating it from the rest of the building.
Given Bermuda’s history with tropical cyclones and the fact that it is a reinsurance industry hub, building codes are among the strictest in the world. The most recent Bermuda building code, released in 2014, requires buildings to withstand wind speeds of 150 miles per hour, much stronger than the winds of Hurricane Ernesto.
Consequently, property damage reports remained low, focusing primarily on minor roof damage and vegetation loss. While power outages were widespread during the storm’s passage, utility restoration was nearly complete by Monday, August 19.
Comparing Hurricane Ernesto to Hurricane Fabian (2003)
Research by the Bermuda Weather Service indicates that damaging storms have struck the island every six to seven years since 1609. Bermuda’s hurricane season runs from May through November, during which the island typically experiences one storm passing within 180 nautical miles of the island annually.
Hurricane Ernesto provides a stark contrast to 2003’s Hurricane Fabian—a Category 3 hurricane that caused $300 million in damages and stands as Bermuda’s most significant storm since 1926.
While still a notable event, Ernesto and its relatively low impact highlight the efficacy of Bermuda’s current disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies.
