Hurricane Ernesto pummels Bermuda with 35ft waves and high winds

Category 1 hurricane described as rare event' in area as officials warn of severe flooding and storm surges

Hurricane Ernesto walloped Bermuda with winds reaching 85mph (137km/h) and waves exceeding 35ft (10.5 metres) offshore from the small British territory in the Atlantic Ocean, as it made landfall early on Saturday - with officials warning of potentially fatal flooding and storm surges.

The storm arrived as a category 1 hurricane after traveling over the archipelago overnight, a trajectory described as a rare event" by the Weather Channel. It is uncommon for the eye of tropical cyclones to pass directly over these islands, per the network.