Hurricane Ernesto Threatens East Coast with Dangerous Surf

Hurricane Ernesto regained strength early Monday, producing dangerous surf and rip currents along the East Coast. The National Hurricane Center reported maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, although the storm's cloud pattern indicated it had ceased strengthening. Moving north-northeast at 21 mph, Ernesto is expected to maintain its intensity throughout Monday before weakening later in the evening. As the storm approached, New Jersey officials issued warnings to beachgoers about the risk of rip currents, advising them to remain on the sand until lifeguards are present. In Atlantic City, concerns were raised about potential coastal flooding due to high seas coinciding with high tide after 7 p.m. on Sunday. Tragically, a man identified as 41-year-old Sean A. Davis from Hampstead, North Carolina, drowned off Surf City, highlighting the storm's dangers. Authorities from Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge urged visitors to avoid beaches in the Rodanthe area. The National Weather Service issued forecasts of life-threatening rip currents along the North Carolina coast from Newport to Morehead City, warning that even experienced swimmers could be swept away. NOAA buoys reported wave heights of 5 to 6 feet along the coast from North Carolina to Rhode Island. With ten million people under coastal flood advisories, the National Hurricane Center cautioned that hazardous surf and rip currents could persist from Bermuda to Canada over the coming days, emphasizing the need for vigilance along affected shorelines.