[11] Following this, Ernesto weakened due to wind shear before making landfall in Bermuda at 8:30 UTC on August 17 as a Category 1 hurricane.

[12] After making landfall, Ernesto then weakened further into a tropical storm due to dry air later that day.

After a brief period of re-intensification throughout August 19, re-strengthening to sustained winds of 90 mph (145 km/h),[14] Ernesto began to weaken once again due to colder sea surface temperatures and environmental conditions becoming unfavorable, as it brushed the coast of Newfoundland.

[17] Tropical storm warnings were issued in advance of Ernesto for Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, the French West Indies (apart from Martinique), Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sint Maarten, and the United States Virgin Islands[18][19] A hurricane watch was issued for the British and US Virgin Islands,[20][21] and a hurricane warning was issued for Bermuda.

[23] In Sint Maarten, the Dutch portion of Saint Martin, Princess Juliana International Airport closed at August 13 and reopened the following day.

Prime Minister Luc Mercelina ordered political parties and businesses to remove billboards and other apparatus from public roads.

The government also delayed the start of classes for public schools and froze prices for essential goods, while municipal mayors activated emergency plans.

LUMA Energy said that there were over 1,000 workers and more than $200 million worth of supplies ready to respond to power outages due to the storm, as well as independent contractors.

[27] The National Guard also transferred the only remaining native parrots, the Puerto Rico Amazon, on the island indoors.

[33] Areas of Scotland were placed under a yellow warning by the Met Office as the remnants of Ernesto were forecast to approach.

[39] As Ernesto passed south of Anguilla, it brought strong winds and hazardous surf conditions to the island.

[40] On the island of Sint Eustatius, many trees were downed, including a large one in Hell Hole that was completely snapped in half.

[41] In Saint Kitts and Nevis, powerlines and trees were downed, while workers needed to clear roads of debris after Ernesto passed by.

The National Emergency Management Agency of St. Kitts advised residents to stay off roads and potentially unstable ground.

[52][53] Sustained winds on the island of Culebra reached 86 mph (138 km/h),[47] where downed trees blocked roads and roofs were blown off.

[30] Hurricane-force gusts swept across the island, toppling utility poles, downing trees or snapping off their branches, and causing light wind damage to a few businesses.

[57] Ernesto’s winds kicked up large waves along Bermuda’s coasts;[58] some coastal hotels and business suffered mild flooding.

[60] At the height of the storm, 28,817 customers on the island lost power, which took several days to be restored in part due to utility pole fires.

[62] In North Carolina, a home along the shoreline on Hatteras Island collapsed due to the waves generated by Ernesto, while many others were at risk.