Bermudians secured homes and businesses on Sept. 24 as they prepared for the arrival of Tropical Storm Jerry just a few days after Hurricane Humberto battered the archipelago and briefly knocked out power for most residents.
Jerry is expected to pass just to the northwest of Bermuda on Wednesday and is likely to hit the island with winds considerably weaker than Humberto unleashed last week.
However, although the storm has been weakening, many residents decided to leave up boards nailed to buildings and tarpaulin sheeting over roofs to cover holes caused by Humberto once word spread that Jerry was following behind the hurricane.
Around 2,000 homes and businesses are hoping to get power back before the storm arrives. Belco, Bermuda’s power company, still has not restored power completely since Humberto pitched much of the island into darkness last week.
Joe Marable, owner of a petrol station near the shore on the northwest of the main island, said he was securing his property after taking a battering from Humberto, whose passage ripped off part of the canopy that covers the gasoline pumps.
“Safety comes first even though (Jerry) is downgraded,” he said. “You just don’t know, so you have to be prepared.”
A tropical storm warning is in effect for Bermuda, and National Security Minister Wayne Caines urged residents not to ride scooters and motorcycles on Wednesday due to the winds.
By Wednesday morning, Jerry was blowing maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (85 kph) and churning around 250 miles (405 km) west-southwest of Bermuda, according to an advisory from the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.
Tropical Storm #Jerry Advisory 31A: Hurricane Hunters Report That Jerry is Maintaining Its Winds For Now. https://t.co/VqHn0u1vgc
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 25, 2019
Tropical Storm Karen soaked Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands
Tropical Storm Karen drenched south-central Puerto Rico, causing a river to wash away a bridge and cutting off at least 15 families, the National Weather Service said late Tuesday.
Even as Karen moves away from the U.S. territory, it’ll bring heavy rainfall, strong thunderstorms and flooding threats through Wednesday, forecasters said.
By Wednesday morning, the center of Karen was 155 miles north-northeast of San Juan. The storm was hurling sustained winds up to 45 mph as it moved north at 14 mph.
“On the forecast track, the center of Karen will continue to move farther away from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands today through Thursday,” though rains over those places are expected to continue Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said.
After leaving Puerto Rico, Karen is forecast to remain a tropical storm in the Atlantic for the next few days, not directly impacting land. Longer term, its direction and longevity are uncertain.
By storm’s end, Karen will generally have dropped up to 6 inches of rain in Puerto Rico, with some isolated areas getting up to 8 inches. “These rains may cause flash flooding and mudslides, especially in mountainous areas,” the hurricane center said.
School is suspended Wednesday, Vázquez announced. Puerto Rico’s Department of Education said on Monday that it’s “taking the necessary measures” to guarantee security during the storm.
By Don Burgess
The CNN Wire contributed to this report.
