Tropical Storm Warnings issued for Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands as future Ernesto gains strength
The tropics have been becoming more active over the past few weeks with the development of Hurricane Debby, which made its first landfall in Florida, and then a second landfall in South Carolina as a tropical storm. Now, forecasters are watching Potential Tropical Cyclone 5 in the Atlantic.
Potential Tropical Cyclone Five likely to become Ernesto
A tropical disturbance is expected to become Tropical Storm Ernesto as it reaches the Leeward Islands. The National Hurricane Center forecast shows it strengthening within the next two days before hitting the Caribbean islands.
As of Monday at 5:00 P.M., Potential Tropical Cyclone Five strengthened into Tropical Storm Ernesto. Continuous coverage of Tropical Storm Ernesto has moved here.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Tropical Storm Warnings are now in effect for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as Potential Tropical Cyclone Five, which forecasters say will likely become Tropical Storm Ernesto by Tuesday, continues to barrel toward the Caribbean islands.
We’re nearing the peak of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, and right on cue the tropics are heating up with the development and landfall of Hurricane Debby last week, followed by the development of Invest 98L, which is now Potential Tropical Cyclone Five.
(FOX Weather)
Introduced by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in 2017, a potential tropical cyclone permits the NHC to issue routine advisories on a system that has not yet developed into a tropical depression or tropical storm but brings a threat of 39-plus-mph winds to land within 48 hours.
The designation also allows for Tropical Storm or Hurricane Watches and Warnings to be issued for areas where concerns are highest for potential impacts from the storm.
The NHC said the system is likely to become Tropical Storm Ernesto, and additional watches and warnings may also be issued.
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What's the forecast for Potential Tropical Cyclone 5?
(FOX Weather)
According to the NHC, Potential Tropical Cyclone Five is located about 730 miles east-southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and is moving to the west at about 26 mph.
The NHC says a westward to west-northwestward motion with a decrease in forward speed is expected over the next few days.
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Where are watches and warnings in effect for Potential Tropical Cyclone 5?
(FOX Weather)
As of the latest advisory from the NHC, all Tropical Storm Watches that were in effect for many of the Leeward Islands have been upgraded to Tropical Storm Warnings.
The Tropical Storm Warnings include the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua, Barbuda and Anguilla.
The Tropical Storm Warnings also include Guadeloupe, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy, Sint Maarten, the British Virgin Islands, Vieques and Culebra.
A Tropical Storm Warning means tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
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Will Potential Tropical Cyclone 5 impact the US?
(FOX Weather)
The NHC says Potential Tropical Cyclone Five will continue to move to the west over the next few days, and on that forecast track it's expected to move across portions of the Leeward Islands on Tuesday and approach the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Tuesday.
The system is then expected to curve toward the northwest and eventually north.
The NHC says PTC Five is expected to become a tropical depression later on Monday or Monday night, and eventually become Tropical Storm Erneso as it nears the Leeward Islands.
Stay with FOX Weather for the latest details on Potential Tropical Cyclone Five.