Tropical Storm Ernesto threatens to become a hurricane as it passes through Puerto Rico

Ernesto, The fifth system of the cyclone season in the Atlantic basin, presents maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (60 miles per hour) and is moving rapidly west-northwest at a forward speed of 30 kilometers per hour (18 miles per hour).

The tropical storm It is located 105 kilometers (65 miles) east-southeast of St. Thomas, in the Virgin Islands. from the United States, and 215 kilometers (135 miles) from San Juan (Puerto Rico), the NHC reported in its bulletin at 5:00 p.m. local time (9:00 p.m. GMT).

The NHC stressed that Hurricane warnings have been issued for the US and British Virgin Islands and also for Vieques and Culebra (Puerto Rico).

A is maintained Tropical Storm Warning for Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua, Barbuda and Anguilla, Guadeloupe, and Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy.

Tropical Storm #Ernesto Advisory 9: Ernesto Heading Toward the Virgin Islands. Expected to Become a Hurricane Tonight While Passing Northeast Of Puerto Rico. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 13, 2024

According to the forecast trajectory, the center of Ernesto should pass near or over the Virgin Islands tonightand then pass just northeast and north of Puerto Rico tonight and Wednesday. “Ernesto should then move over the western Atlantic later in the week and approach Bermuda on Friday,” added the NHC, based in Miami (Florida).

Tropical Storm #Ernesto strengthens as it passes just south of St. Kitts and Nevis at 11am AST Tuesday. Hurricane Watches have been issued for the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. The biggest threat is flooding & mudslides from heavy rain. More: pic.twitter.com/XdfHfeac2t

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 13, 2024

So far this hurricane season in the Atlantic basin, which began on June 1, Five tropical storms have formed: Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby and Ernesto.

Of them Beryl and Debby grew stronger to hurricanesThe first of these even reached the highest category on the Saffir-Simpson scale, number five, causing destruction and death in the Caribbean and the United States.

This Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be one of the most active and intense in decadeswith the formation of up to 25 storms and 13 hurricanes.