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TS Ernesto pounds VI with heavy rains & winds

A downed utility pole in the Ridge Road area of Tortola today, August 14, 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters
Tropical Storm Ernesto made landfall in the Virgin Islands last evening, Tuesday, August 13, 2024 bringing with it strong winds and heavy rainfall. Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA)
Tropical Storm Ernesto made landfall in the Virgin Islands last evening, Tuesday, August 13, 2024 bringing with it strong winds and heavy rainfall. Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA)
Flooding in Baughers Bay, Tortola today, August 14, 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters
Flooding in Baughers Bay, Tortola today, August 14, 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Tropical Storm Ernesto made landfall in the Virgin Islands last evening, Tuesday, August 13, 2024, bringing with it strong winds and heavy rainfall.

The Territory has been without power since Tuesday evening, August 13, 2024, and there have been reports of downed power lines.

The BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) had informed residents to prepare for potential outages due to the storm. 

Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) has been informed of fallen trees blocking roads and flooding in some areas. 

Some residents also reported extremely strong winds and expressed disbelief that the storm had not reached hurricane status yet. 

The National Emergency Operations Centre was activated at Level 1 by Governor Daniel Pruce on Tuesday. 

Government offices are also closed today and the full Remote Working Policy activated. Only essential services will operate physically.. 

TS Ernesto moving away from VI

While the VI remains under Hurricane Watch and Tropical Storm Warning, the storm is moving away from the VI, according to the BVI Department of Disaster Management (DDM). 

At 5:00 AM, the system was approximately 87 miles west-northwest of Road Town, Tortola. Rainfall recorded in the last 24 hours in the Territory was at least 3 inches. 

As the storm moves further away from the Territory it is expected to further strengthen. 

Rain & thunderstorms expected today

Tropical Storm Ernesto continues to generate unstable weather conditions. 

Weather today: Cloudy with rain and thunderstorms 

Weather tonight: Cloudy skies with rain and moderate or 60 percent chance of thunderstorms

Winds: Southeast to south 28 to 48 km/h or 17 to 30 mph with gusts higher than 100 km or 62 mph possible

Seas: 1.8 to 2.4 meters or 6 to 8 feet. A small boat warning is still in effect

Sunset today: 6:46 PM.

21 Responses to “TS Ernesto pounds VI with heavy rains & winds”

  • The watchdog (14/08/2024, 09:47) Like (32) Dislike (0) Reply
    This thing was more than a tropical storm mehson
    • @Watchdoy. For real. (14/08/2024, 10:50) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      Usually anything coming from the south, Off Anegada, St Croix way, straight off the sea, like Irma did will usually be worst than forecast, I wasn't surprised, I prepared and board up. But what surprised me was having Electricity all through this battering night. Plenty Props to electricity coorperation, excellent.
      • What? (14/08/2024, 17:59) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
        You had electricity? Where was this
      • @ Watchdog (14/08/2024, 18:14) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        You had electricity all night?!? I thought it was turned off island wide? Ours went out at 7:30pm and didn’t come back until 5 or. So today. And I know folks who still don’t have it
    • sample (14/08/2024, 12:20) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      Somebody lying to us this same thing was a hurricane the wind was clocking 65 @5:00 pm and it wasn’t close to us in cold water when it get close it get into warm water and slow down and come over we and build up here and take off after..
  • Worst than I thought. (14/08/2024, 09:55) Like (19) Dislike (3) Reply
    My people, BVIEC deserves a "Gold medal". They kept electricity on through all of that. Thank you. ..I also want to give my internet provider digicel a big up and thanks for keeping it on all through the storm...Thank you...Water dept. Gets a "D" it's now 10 am since last night. Yet no water...
    • SeaCows (14/08/2024, 11:22) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
      BVIEC didn't at seacows. Power has been off since 1930 yesterday
    • Oasis (14/08/2024, 11:39) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
      Happy that you are in an oasis. For the rest of us, electricity went down at 8pm and digicel at 11pm.
    • @ Worst than I thought @ Watchdog. The Real (14/08/2024, 12:18) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ Worst than I thought @ Watchdog. The Real. You probably on the hospital feed for electricity because everywhere else it was gone from before 8pm lastnight.
  • winds (14/08/2024, 10:39) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    No way einds was 40 to 70 miles that had to be over 100. That was not playing seems like irma returmed my my. Thank God no life lost
  • Thim (14/08/2024, 10:56) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    I don't see the need to turn off the water
  • resident (14/08/2024, 11:11) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's only 1 mph difference between a tropical storm and a cat 1 hurricane. Although Ernesto had 70 mph winds that was sustained winds. There were gusts up to 79.
  • @ WORSE THAN U THOUGHT (14/08/2024, 11:28) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    ELECTRICITY WAS OFF IN SOME PLACES / AM THINKING ABOUT DIGICEL , CCT PLAYING AND FLOW PLAYING GAMES AND THE GOVERNMENT AIN'T CARE ABOUT US , WE ARE AT THE MERCY OF THOSE GUYS


  • DEDE (14/08/2024, 12:17) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    I must say electricity did a good job keeping the current on. What was surprising is my internet from CCT worked thru all this. I know many don’t have but let be thankful we made it thru the storm. Thanks be to God.
  • @worst… (14/08/2024, 12:45) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Had Digicel throughout the storm as well. Kudos to them. Electricity went about 730 last evening and still off but am not complaining. Alls well that ends well.

    Those were some really strong winds. Every tree bush and shrub in the yard totally flat
  • Short term memory loss (14/08/2024, 13:25) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
    So many people not prepared for what was only a tropical storm. All y’all talking it was way stronger need to go back to school. This was only a drill. Wait till sept when we actually get a storm. Take this as a warning to get prepared. Who don’t hear will feel
  • anegada (14/08/2024, 16:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    power off last night from 6:30 still no power on most of the island, Digicel dead since last night and only trickling now on mobile service, but the winds were brutal last night , got slammed hard
  • good thing (14/08/2024, 20:05) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good thing we enjoy that lil festival and spend much needed tax money their mehson


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