The hurricane strengthened to a **Category 2 storm** on Thursday night as it headed toward Bermuda.

It had already caused strong winds and heavy rain in Puerto Rico, affecting hundreds of thousands of people.

By Wednesday, the storm had moved about **410 miles south-southwest of Bermuda** at a speed of around **14 mph**.

According to the National Hurricane Center's 11 p.

m.

advisory, the storm's maximum sustained winds were **100 mph**.

Early Thursday, the National Hurricane Center and the Bermuda Weather Service issued a **hurricane warning for Bermuda**, indicating that hurricane conditions are expected in the island’s marine area within 36 hours.

When the storm passes near or over Bermuda, it is expected to bring dangerous coastal conditions and **6 to 12 inches of rain**, with locally higher amounts up to **15 inches** possible.

The hurricane, named Ernesto, is expected to continue strengthening over the next 12 to 24 hours, with winds reaching up to **110 mph**—the upper end of a Category 2 hurricane.

However, it could weaken afterward due to conditions such as cooler waters, according to the hurricane center.

Bermuda's National Security Minister, Michael Weeks, has urged people to take the storm seriously and prepare for its impact.

“As I have said before, it only takes one storm to cause significant damage and disrupt our way of life,” Weeks said on Wednesday.

“Now is not the time for complacency.

”No deaths related to the storm have been reported in Puerto Rico.

Over **730,000 customers** were without power on Wednesday, with some also losing water service, according to Governor Pedro Pierluisi.

As of 11 p.

m.

Thursday, over **287,000 customers** were still without power, which is about **20%** of the island's **1.

4 million customers**.

The National Weather Service in San Juan reported that more than **10 inches of rain** had fallen in the region of Barranquitas in Puerto Rico.

In advance of Ernesto hitting Puerto Rico, an order was issued authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts and supplement local disaster relief.

Swells from Ernesto are already affecting parts of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas.

These swells, which are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, are expected to reach the U.

S.

East Coast overnight into Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Canada has stated that swells will begin arriving along the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia on Saturday, and the storm could cause some rain in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland next week.

'We expect that the track of Ernesto’s center will be well south of Nova Scotia as it travels northeastward, then approach southeastern Newfoundland later Monday,' the Hurricane Center said.