Tropical Storm Ernesto is expected to strengthen into a hurricane Wednesday (8/14) as it moves north into the Atlantic, bringing heavier rains to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, cutting off power to thousands of homes and businesses.
Ernesto was about 200 kilometers (125 miles) northwest of Puerto Rico's capital, San Juan, as the storm crawled northwest, packing winds of about 110 kilometers per hour (70 mph), the National Hurricane Center said in an advisory early Wednesday.
Ernesto, the fifth Atlantic storm named this season, is likely to strengthen into a tornado on Wednesday as it turns north of Puerto Rico and become a “major hurricane within days,” the center said. It will approach the British island territory of Bermuda, about 650 miles (1,093 kilometers) east of North Carolina, on Saturday.
A storm is considered a hurricane when its sustained winds reach 70 mph (119 kph). A major hurricane, Category 3 or higher, has winds of at least 110 mph (179 kph).
About 436,000 homes and businesses were without power on Wednesday in Puerto Rico, according to LUMA Energy, which provides electricity to the U.S. territory.
More rain caused flooding in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, the hurricane information center said, warning that floodwaters were covering some roads and causing landslides.
“I urge you to stay safe in your homes, have emergency numbers handy and follow the recommendations of authorities. Everyone’s safety is a priority,” Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi said at X.
Schools in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands were closed on Wednesday, as were government offices. Airports in the Virgin Islands, to the east and southeast of Puerto Rico, were expected to reopen at 10 a.m. local time (1400 GMT) on Wednesday.
The Virgin Islands is expected to receive up to 6 inches (15.2 cm) of rain, while southeastern Puerto Rico is expected to receive up to 10 inches (25.4 cm). The Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra are under a tropical storm warning, the hurricane information center said.
Ernesto is the second Atlantic hurricane in a week. Slow-moving Hurricane Debby slammed into Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 1 storm last week, before dumping up to 2 feet (0.6 meters) of rain on parts of North Carolina and South Carolina. (th/uh)
