Hurricane Ernesto Causes Drownings and Closures

Hurricane Ernesto, now a Category 1 storm with sustained winds of 85 mph, has been causing dangerous swells and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast and parts of Canada, leading to three drowning deaths in the Carolinas. The storm, which regained hurricane strength on Sunday after impacting Bermuda, is expected to affect Newfoundland with heavy rain and strong winds by Monday night. Despite remaining offshore, Ernesto's powerful waves have prompted multiple rescues and warnings for beachgoers to stay out of the water. The National Hurricane Center forecasts the storm will become a post-tropical cyclone by Tuesday, with no other tropical cyclones expected in the Atlantic for the next week. Coastal areas from Florida to Maine remain under advisories for high surf and rip currents, raising concerns for beach erosion and localized flooding.