Millions prepare for landslides, flooding as Tropical Storm Ernesto surges in strength

Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands as Tropical Storm Ernesto continues to pound the islands with flooding rain and damaging wind gusts, and forecasters warn that the storm is expected to become a hurricane sometime Wednesday.

The tropics have become more active over the past few weeks with the development of Hurricane Debby, which made its first US landfall in Florida, and then a second US landfall in South Carolina as a tropical storm.

Hot on its heels was Invest 98L and then Potential Tropical Cyclone Five, which began to organize as it moved over the warm waters of the tropical Atlantic Ocean and eventually became what is now Tropical Storm Ernesto.

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According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Tropical Storm Ernesto is located about 85 miles north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was moving northwest at 16 mph.

Tropical Storm Ernesto has maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, and the NHC says Ernesto will likely become a hurricane later Wednesday. Forecasters also say there’s a chance Ernesto could become a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) in a few days.

The NHC says Ernesto is expected to make a turn to the north-northwest and then north with a gradual decrease in forward speed Wednesday night and Thursday. On that track, the center of Ernesto will pass to the north of Puerto Rico through the day on Wednesday.

Ernesto on track to become hurricane while bringing life-threatening surf, flooding rain to Caribbean islands

Ernesto will then likely move over the western Atlantic Ocean later in the week and near Bermuda on Saturday.

Millions of people across the region have been preparing for the potential impacts of the storm, including heavy precipitation that could trigger rockslides, mudslides and flooding . In addition, large and destructive surf, as well as dangerous rip currents and a potentially deadly storm surge, are also possible.

“Ernesto is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 4 to 6 inches over the US and British Virgin Islands,” the NHC said in its latest update. “Rainfall totals of 6 to 8 inches, with maximum amounts of 10 inches, are expected across southeastern Puerto Rico, with totals of 2 to 4 inches across northwestern Puerto Rico.”

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A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands, Vieques and Culebra.

According to the NHC, Tropical Storm Ernesto is expected to make a turn to the north over the western Atlantic Ocean as it moves away from Puerto Rico.

At this time, it doesn’t appear Ernesto will directly impact the mainland US. However, large swells generated by Ernesto are expected to reach the East Coast and Bermuda late this week and into the weekend. The large waves will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip currents at beaches.

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