Tropical Storm Ernesto charges towards Caribbean, could become next hurricane

A storm that is expected to become a hurricane has formed in the Atlantic and is heading towards Puerto Rico and other surrounding islands, forecasters say.

Tropical Storm Ernesto, first tagged as a potential tropical cyclone five, took shape Monday (Aug 12) and has since been on a westward path to parts of the Leeward Islands, bringing heavy storm conditions, which are expected to hit Tuesday (Aug. 13).

The National Hurricane Centre's (NHC’s) early morning update on Tuesday posted storm warnings for the following destinations: Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Sint Maarten, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vieques and Culebra.

The NHC says tropical storm conditions are expected in warning areas within 36 hours. The centre is advising the northeastern Caribbean region to monitor Ernesto’s progress.

Storm strengthening expected

The storm’s maximum sustained winds are currently near 65 km/h with higher gusts, the NHC says.

Gradual strengthening is expected during the next few days, and Ernesto could reach hurricane strength by Thursday over the waters north of the Greater Antilles, the centre wrote.

The storm is expected to produce total rain accumulations of four to six inches over portions of the Leeward and Virgin Islands. For Puerto Rico, three to six inches of rainfall, with maximum amounts of 10 inches, is expected.

A storm surge will also raise water levels by as much as one to three feet above ground level for the eastern coast of Puerto Rico from San Juan to Guayama, including the islands of Culebra and Vieques and in the U.S. Virgin Islands, including St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, adds the NHC.

Forecasters say the mainland U.S. could be largely spared from the storm, which is expected to turn northward over the western Atlantic.

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