Tropical Storm Ernesto churned away from Bermuda on Sunday and moved further out in the northeastern Atlantic, but it still hurled tremendous seas toward the United States East Coast, causing rip currents that resulted in at least one death and forcing numerous rescues. The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood advisory and warned of a high risk of rip currents along the Atlantic Coast until Monday evening, claiming they “can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.” The warning extended from Florida to the Boston area and parts of Maine.

During high-risk seasons, rip currents become more likely and potentially more frequent, endangering swimmers of all skill levels, not just inexperienced ones, according to meteorologist Mike Lee of Mount Holly, New Jersey. “It’s going to be really dangerous out in the water today,” he told me. At Manasquan Inlet in New Jersey, officials reported a fisherman was washed off the north jetty on Saturday but was swiftly rescued by lifeguards. Lifeguard Chief Doug Anderson told NJ Advance Media that the victim suffered knee and back injuries, as well as a suspected concussion, and was taken to the hospital. At least five other people were saved. Senior Lt. Meghan Holland of Ventnor, to the south, said that eight individuals had been rescued.

Forecasters, citing local emergency management, said that a 41-year-old man perished in a rip current at Surf City, North Carolina. Two males drowned separately on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, on Friday, but it was unclear whether rip currents were involved, according to The Island Packet of Hilton Head, quoting a lifeguard services representative. An abandoned beach home at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on North Carolina’s Outer Banks collapsed into ocean waters Friday evening due to heavy surf. Flash flood warnings were issued for parts of Connecticut and southeastern New York, while flash flood watches and advisories were in place for Delaware, New Jersey, and southeastern Pennsylvania, with forecasters warning of flooding in low-lying areas.

Ernesto dropped to a tropical storm late Saturday after dumping heavy rain and strong winds on Bermuda, but it was projected to intensify again to a hurricane as it moved into the northeastern Atlantic. Businesses in the tiny British island began to reopen after the hurricane passed, and “we are on our way back to living a life of normalcy,” Bermuda Security Minister Michael Weeks said on Sunday. Lyndon Raynor of Bermuda’s Disaster Risk Reduction Mitigation Team stated that no substantial damage had been reported. BELCO, Bermuda’s power utility, reported that 50% of customers had energy, while more than 12,000 remained without it on Sunday.

Lyndon Raynor of Bermuda’s Disaster Risk Reduction Mitigation Team stated that no substantial damage had been reported. BELCO, Bermuda’s power utility, reported that 50% of customers had energy, while more than 12,000 remained without it on Sunday. Ernesto had already pounded the northern Caribbean, leaving tens of thousands of residents without water in Puerto Rico. LUMA, the national power operator, said it had restored power to more than 1.4 million consumers, although service data showed more than 60,000 were still without it on Sunday. After cleaning up and clearing debris, the Virgin Islands Department of Education announced that all public schools would resume operations on Monday. Puerto Rico’s public schools were also set to open on Monday, roughly a week later than planned.