Hurricane Ernesto churned toward Bermuda on Thursday.  At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Hurricane Ernesto was located at latitude 25.4°N and longitude 69.3°W which put the center about 550 miles (885 km) south-southwest of Bermuda.  Ernesto was moving toward the north at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 974 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for Bermuda.

Hurricane Ernesto continued to strengthen gradually on Thursday.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Ernesto’s circulation several times.  However, dry air spiraled into the center of Hurricane Ernesto each time and an eyewall failed to form.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Ernesto’s circulation.  Storms near the center of Ernesto generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease gradually.

The size of the circulation around Hurricane Ernesto increased on Thursday.  Winds to hurricane force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of Ernesto’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 175 miles (280 km) from the center of Ernesto’s circulation.

Hurricane Ernesto will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Ernesto will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Hurricane Ernesto will intensify during the next 24 hours.

Hurricane Ernesto will move around the western side of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Ernesto toward the north during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Hurricane Ernesto will approach Bermuda on Friday night.