Tropical Storm Ernesto raged in the Caribbean on Tuesday evening, just days after Debbie completed its path along the US East Coast. The National Hurricane Center said the hurricane was expected to become a hurricane early Wednesday morning after reaching Puerto Rico.
At 11 p.m. EDT, meteorologists said Ernesto had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and was moving northwest at 17 mph as it moved across the Virgin Islands. Its center was about 35 miles northwest of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and about 65 miles northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, the hurricane center said.
A hurricane warning has been issued for the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, as well as the islands of Vieques and Culebra. A tropical storm warning has been issued for Montserrat and Anguilla, as well as the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra.
NOAA/NESDIS/STAR GOES EAST
Meteorologists expect the storm to strengthen and become a hurricane north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Wednesday. It is expected to move across the western Atlantic and reach Bermuda on Friday.
David Parkinson, CBS News’ senior weather producer, said that with Ernesto, “rain will play a far greater role than wind.”
The storm is expected to bring between 4 and 6 inches of rain to the Leeward Islands and the Virgin Islands, and up to 10 inches to southeastern Puerto Rico. Storm surge could reach up to 3 feet in the British Virgin Islands, bringing “large and destructive waves.” The Leeward Islands could also experience “significant flash flooding and mudslides,” the National Hurricane Center said.
“Some models have suggested a possible 12 inches of rainfall due to topography, so we can’t rule out higher values,” Parkinson said. “…The U.S. remains outside the risk zone for direct impacts, but rip currents and larger waves will be a concern on the East Coast.”
Ernesto is the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which has already proved to be historic after Beryl reached record strength to start the season with above-average temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico. NOAA has predicted an above-average season with 17 to 25 named storms, eight to 13 hurricanes, and four to seven major hurricanes.
The fifth named storm typically does not occur until August 22, according to NOAA.
