Hurricane Ernesto regained strength on Sunday as it moved in the open Atlantic Ocean, reaching maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. The storm was located about 520 miles south of Halifax, Canada and was moving north-northeast at 17 mph. Ernesto was expected to intensify before weakening back into a tropical storm by Tuesday.
Officials in New York City closed beaches in Brooklyn and Queens due to concerns about rip currents, while New Jersey warned beachgoers to be cautious and stay out of the water until lifeguards were on duty. In Atlantic City, there were warnings of possible coastal flooding due to high seas and high tide.
Two men drowned in rip currents off Hilton Head, South Carolina on Friday, though it was not clear if Ernesto was to blame as rip currents are common in that area year-round. Meanwhile, a stilted home along the North Carolina shore collapsed into the ocean waves, though no injuries were reported.
National Weather Service advisories were in effect from Newport, North Carolina to Morehead City, and from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Wilmington, North Carolina, warning of life-threatening rip currents. NOAA buoys along the coast measured wave heights of 5 to 6 feet, and coastal flood advisories were issued for 10 million people from Bermuda to Canada.
Overall, life-threatening surf and rip currents were possible along the East Coast for the next few days, with coastal flooding advisories in effect for areas experiencing or anticipating moderate to major flooding.
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