Tropical Storm Ernesto is continuing to strengthen and will likely become a large and powerful hurricane through the week.
Ernesto has sustained winds of 70 mph and continues to pummel its way across Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, bringing flooding rains. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles from the center.
Meteorologist warn, that while the storm’s path is expected to head toward Bermuda, if it takes a longer westward track through the Caribbean, hanging there a little longer, it could be pushed closer to the East Coast when it heads north.
“Beach goers should be aware of a significant risk of deadly rip currents beginning later this week,” the National Hurricane Center said.
Where is Ernesto now?
Tropical storm conditions will continue over the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Culebra and Vieques today, creating swells that will also affect the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas over the next few days before it reaches the east coast of the United States and Bermuda late this week and into the weekend.
The National Hurricane Center warns these swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Where is Ernesto headed?
According to the forecast track, Ernesto will move north away from Puerto Rico today and then over the Atlantic later in the week as it nears Bermuda by Saturday.
Ernesto is expected to become a hurricane later today and could develop into a major hurricane over the next few days. A major hurricane carries sustained winds of at least 111mph, making it a Category 3 storm or higher.
➤ Track Tropical Storm Ernesto
Swells are expected to reach the east coast, bringing dangerous surf and rip currents by Thursday evening and continue through the weekend.
This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: Where is Ernesto? Track the storm as it develops into major hurricane
Source Agencies
