Tropical Storm Ernesto is predicted to strengthen into a hurricane in the Atlantic by Thursday, as reported by the National Hurricane Center.
As of Tuesday morning, Ernesto was located in the Caribbean, approximately 250 miles east-southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, moving west-northwest at 18 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. This trajectory is expected to persist through Tuesday night, after which the storm will turn northwest and then north at a slower pace on Wednesday and Thursday.
According to the National Hurricane Center, “On the forecast track, the center of Ernesto should pass near or over the Virgin Islands this evening, and then move just northeast and north of Puerto Rico tonight and into Wednesday.”
Later in the week, the storm will traverse the western Atlantic.
The storm is projected to strengthen over the upcoming days, with expectations to become a hurricane just north of the Greater Antilles, which includes Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica, by Thursday.
Ernesto could deliver 4 to 6 inches of rain to areas of the Leeward Islands and the Virgin Islands, with southeastern Puerto Rico potentially receiving up to 10 inches of rain, according to the NHC.
Water levels could rise by up to 3 feet above ground level on the eastern coast of Puerto Rico and in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, accompanied by large and damaging waves near the British Virgin Islands’ coastline.
In preparation, Puerto Rico has activated the National Guard and has postponed the beginning of classes in public schools, as reported by The Associated Press.
A hurricane watch has been issued for the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, as well as for Puerto Rico’s Vieques and Culebra. Tropical storm warnings have been announced for Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Martin and Sint Maarten, Guadeloupe, and St. Barts.