Hurricane Ernesto leaves half of Puerto Rico without power amid flooding

Ernesto intensified into a Category 1 hurricane Wednesday as it churned north of Puerto Rico, where it unleashed torrential rain and damaging winds that triggered flash flood warnings and cut power to nearly half the island.

As of 5 p.m. ET, Ernesto had left Puerto Rico well behind and was 180 miles east of Grand Turk island, carrying sustained winds of 75 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm was headed northwest in the direction of Bermuda, about 750 miles away, and Ernesto is expected to approach Bermuda by Saturday, according to the NHC. The Bermuda Weather Service issued a hurricane watch.