Tropical Storm Ernesto treks toward Caribbean islands, forecast to become hurricane: NHC

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Updated  August 13, 2024 12:08am EDT
FOX 35 Orlando
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Tropical Storm Ernesto headed to Puerto Rico

Ernesto will impact Puerto Rico late Tuesday into Wednesday morning and midday as a strong tropical storm. From there, it rapidly intensifies and becomes a strong hurricane by Friday.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Tropical Storm Ernesto, the fifth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, officially formed in the Atlantic on Monday afternoon. 

In the National Hurricane Center's 11 p.m. update, forecasters said the storm has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph as it treks toward the west-northwest at about 25 mph. 

Ernesto is currently located about 165 miles east-southeast of Antigua and about 460 miles east-southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

Forecasters said the storm will move across parts of the Leeward Islands and near or over the U.S., British Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico by Tuesday evening. Tropical Storm Ernesto is then expected to turn north over the western Atlantic. 

Tropical Storm Ernesto is expected to strengthen over the next few days as it leaves the Caribbean. The NHC said in its forecast discussion that this area has conducive environmental conditions for development. It could intensify into a hurricane. 

Tropical Storm Ernesto: Latest forecast cone, spaghetti models, satellite imagery

Tropical Storm Ernesto forms in Atlantic Basin, Aug. 12, 2024. [Credit: NOAA]

Will future Hurricane Ernesto impact Florida?

FOX 35 Storm Team Meteorologist Brooks Garner said the latest track shows the disturbance curving safely out to sea, well east of Florida. 

"While this means we'll see no direct impacts as it makes its closest pass this weekend, we will catch a long-period swell developing midweek, making for dangerous beach conditions on the Atlantic coast with a high risk for rip currents and long-period swell," Garner said. 

The disturbance has prompted tropical storm watches for the following areas:

  • Guadeloupe
  • St. Kitts, Nevis
  • Montserra
  • Antigua
  • Barbuda
  • Anguilla
  • Saba and St. Eustatius
  • St. Martin and St. Barthelemy
  • Sint Maarten
  • British Virgin Islands
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Puerto Rico
  • Vieques
  • Culebra

2024 Atlantic hurricane season names, pronunciation guide

  • Alberto (al-BAIR-toe)
  • Beryl (BEHR-ril)
  • Chris (kris)
  • Debby (DEH-bee)
  • Ernesto (er-NES-toh)
  • Francine (fran-SEEN)
  • Gordon (GOR-duhn)
  • Helene (heh-LEEN)
  • Isaac (EYE-zik)
  • Joyce (joys)
  • Kirk (kurk)
  • Leslie (LEHZ-lee)
  • Milton (MIL-ton)
  • Nadine (nay-DEEN)
  • Oscar (AHS-kur)
  • Patty (PAT-ee)
  • Rafael (rah-fah-ELL)
  • Sara (SAIR-uh)
  • Tony (TOH-nee)
  • Valerie (VAH-lur-ee)
  • William (WILL-yum)

If all of a season's names are used, there is an alternate name list, which includes an additional 21 names. Those names for the Atlantic season include, Adria, Braylen, Caridad, Deshawn, Emery, Foster, Gemma, Heath, Isla, Jacobus, Kenzie, Lucio, Makayla, Nolan, Orlanda, Pax, Ronin, Sophie, Tayshaun, Viviana, and Will.

When does hurricane season end?

Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. 

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