Puerto Rico has canceled the start of classes in public schools and activated the National Guard as Tropical Storm Ernesto approaches the U.S. territory. The storm formed in the Atlantic Ocean on Monday, prompting tropical storm warnings for Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and parts of the Caribbean including Antigua and Barbuda.
As of late Monday, Ernesto was positioned approximately 230 miles east-southeast of Antigua, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and moving west at 28 mph. This marks Ernesto as the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.
Officials in the French Caribbean expect heavy rainfall in Guadeloupe and the storm to pass near St. Barts and St. Martin. The National Hurricane Center predicts that Ernesto will approach Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands on Tuesday evening, leading to potential flooding and landslides.
Puerto Rico’s emergency management commissioner, Nino Correa, emphasized the need for vigilance. Governor Pedro Pierluisi announced the readiness of over 340 shelters island-wide and activated more than 200 National Guard personnel in preparation.
The National Weather Service indicated that rainfall could reach between six to eight inches, with higher amounts in isolated areas. Forecasters also warned of hurricane-strength wind gusts, particularly affecting northeastern Puerto Rico late Tuesday and into Wednesday.
Puerto Rico’s power grid remains fragile following Hurricane Maria in 2017, leading officials to anticipate widespread outages. Juan Saca, president of Luma Energy, acknowledged this concern. Similar power outage warnings have been issued for the U.S. Virgin Islands, where officials declared island-wide blackouts in anticipation of the storm.
U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan Jr. urged residents to take the storm seriously, emphasizing the importance of preparedness as the peak of hurricane season approaches.
Forecasts indicate that Ernesto could strengthen into a hurricane by Thursday as it heads north toward Bermuda, with concerns that it may escalate into a significant Category 3 storm. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year, forecasting 17 to 25 named storms, including four to seven major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.