Ernesto officially reached hurricane strength this morning as the storm continued to approach the island.

According to the latest update from the Bermuda Weather Service, the closest point of approach in the next 72 hours was expected to be 56 miles to the west of the island at 11am on Saturday, when the weather system will have gained Category 2 hurricane force.

Forecasters have projected that the storm will grow further in strength to Category 3 by Friday morning, but weaken again later that day.

Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, urged the public to begin their preparations now.

“While Bermuda has been fortunate in recent years to avoid the worst impacts of hurricanes, we have to take each storm seriously and prepare accordingly,” Mr Weeks said.

“It only takes one storm to cause significant damage and disrupt our way of life.”

Mr Weeks said the storm is expected to bring hurricane force winds, rough seas and a high likelihood of power outages across the island.

“This is not the time to underestimate the power of nature,” he added.

“Time is of the essence. Preparations must be completed as soon as possible.”

Mr Weeks said that the Emergency Measures Organisation met this morning and would meet again tomorrow when decisions will be made based on the latest information.

“These decisions will include the operation of the Causeway, the airport, public transportation services such as buses and ferries as well as other Government services,” he said.

“We will also discuss the emergency shelter at CedarBridge Academy. Following this meeting we will promptly inform the public of these decisions.”

Michelle Pitcher, the Bermuda Weather Service director, said tropical storm force winds were expected to reach the island by Friday afternoon.

Winds will continue to intensify overnight, with Bermuda expected to experience Category 1 hurricane winds of 75 to 80mph by Saturday morning.

“It is a bit early for us to have exact timing and the details,” Ms Pitcher said. “That information will become much more solid and we will increase our confidence in our forecast as time goes on.

“However, we do need to be prepared for the strongest winds starting early Saturday morning.”

Ms Pitcher added that because the storm is expected to pass more than 50 miles to the island’s west, Bermuda may be able to avoid Category 2 conditions, but urged the public to stay informed as the situation could change.

“While we want to hope for the best and may see an improvement in our forecast, we do need to be prepared for the worst and a higher intensity wind field.”

Ms Pitcher added that further rain was expected before Ernesto reaches the island and the public should be wary of flooding.

She said: “We have been very dry recently with the Bermuda-Azores high over the area, and now it looks like all of the rain is coming.

“While no one wants to catch up on the rain all at once, it looks like we will be measuring several inches of rain by the time this event is over, so please be extra mindful of areas that tend to flood.”

The US-based National Hurricane Centre said in its 3pm update that the storm was still 805 miles south-southwest of Bermuda and moving northwest at around 16mph.

“A turn towards the north-northwest and north is expected later today and tonight, with a generally northward motion at a slower forward speed continuing through Saturday,” the NHC said.

“On the forecast track, the centre of Ernesto will continue to move away from Puerto Rico today, move across the western Atlantic during the next few days, and approach Bermuda Friday and Saturday.

“Data from Air Force Reserve and NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75mph with higher gusts.

“Additional strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days.

“Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the centre and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 230 miles.”

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the modern average of about 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

Ernesto is the fifth named storm of the 2024 hurricane season, following Hurricane Beryl, Hurricane Debby, Tropical Storm Alberto and Tropical Storm Chris.

Forecasters at Colorado State University warned that Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record, which battered the Caribbean recently, was a “likely harbinger” of a hyperactive season fuelled by warmer-than-average waters.

In a revised forecast released by the CSU, it predicted 25 named storms, including 12 hurricanes, half of which would become major hurricanes.

The NHC forecast an 85 per cent chance of a busier-than-average season with between 17 and 25 named storms, while Britain’s Met Office forecast 22 named storms during the season.

• UPDATE: this article has been updated with the latest information from the National Hurricane Centre