Hurricane Ernesto strengthens as it aims at Bermuda

Hurricane Ernesto strengthened to a Category 2 storm early on Friday as it made its way toward Bermuda.

The National Hurricane Center said hours later the storm was moving north-northeast with little change in its strength by Friday afternoon. People in Ernesto's path were urged to prepare for dangerous storm surge and life-threatening flooding.

Hurricane warnings were put in place for the entire island on Friday.

Officials told Bermuda residents they had just hours to prepare before being slammed with heavy rains and strong winds.

Hurricane Ernesto was forecast to hit Bermuda with 100 mph winds and potentially dump more than a foot of rain on the small Caribbean island.

As of Friday afternoon, the hurricane continued to churn between Bermuda and Puerto Rico. Ernesto drenched Puerto Rico and left half the U.S. territory without power.

The powerful storm gained strength as it moved north, with forecasts telling residents to prepare for the storm to possibly become a Category 3 hurricane.

The U.S. East Coast was told to also prepare for life-threatening surf and rip currents as a result of swells generated by the storm.

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