Tropical Storm Ernesto A few days later, on Tuesday evening, it was passing through the Caribbean Debbie He ended his journey on the East Coast of America. The National Hurricane Center said it will become a hurricane early Wednesday morning after passing Puerto Rico.
to 11 p.m. EDT, forecasters said Ernesto had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and was moving northwest at 17 mph as it moved over the Virgin Islands. It was centered 35 miles northwest of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and 65 miles northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, the hurricane center said.
A hurricane watch was in effect for the US and British Virgin Islands and the islands of Vieques and Culebra. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Montserrat and Anguilla, as well as the US and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra.
NOAA/NESDS/STAR GOES-EAST
Forecasters expect the storm to strengthen and become a hurricane north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Wednesday. It is forecast to move into the western Atlantic and approach Bermuda on Friday.
“Rain will be a much bigger player than wind” for Ernesto, CBS News senior meteorologist David Parkinson said.
The storm is expected to drop 4 to 6 inches of rain on the Leeward and Virgin Islands, and up to 10 inches on southeastern Puerto Rico. Storm surge levels in the British Virgin Islands could reach 3 feet and bring “large and destructive waves”. The Leeward Islands could also see “significant flash flooding and mudslides,” the National Hurricane Center said.
“Some models suggest a foot is possible based on terrain, so a higher number cannot be ruled out,” Parkinson said. “…The US is outside the danger zone for direct impacts, but currents and large waves along the eastern seaboard remain a concern.”
Ernesto marks the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season so far, which has already been proven History after Beryl reached record strength Above average temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico at the start of the season. NOAA predicts an above-normal season with 17-25 named storms, 8 to 13 hurricanes and four to seven major hurricanes.
A fifth named storm usually does not occur until now August 22According to NOAA.
