Tropical Storm Ernesto, the fifth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, has formed in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 295-300 miles east-southeast of Antigua. The storm is moving west-northwest at a speed of 28-44 mph, with sustained winds of 40-65 mph. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued tropical storm warnings for Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and parts of the Leeward Islands.Ernesto is expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and potential flash flooding to these areas. Gloria Ceballos, director of the Dominican Meteorological Institute (Indomet), warned that by Monday afternoon, cloudy developments could lead to thunderstorms with heavy rain in several Dominican provinces. The storm is forecast to pass through the Lesser Antilles on Tuesday morning and near Puerto Rico from Tuesday evening to Wednesday.Meteorologists predict that Ernesto could strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane by Thursday and potentially a Category 2 by Friday. Steven Yablonski, a meteorologist at FOX Weather, reported that after passing near the Caribbean islands, Ernesto is expected to turn towards the north over the Atlantic, potentially approaching Bermuda by the weekend.While Ernesto is not expected to directly impact the continental United States, the NHC warned about hazardous surf and rip currents along the US East Coast. AccuWeather’s Alex DaSilva cautioned, ‘Rip currents could be very dangerous along the East coast of the United States. We often see rescues and loss of life at beaches during these types of storms.’ The 2024 hurricane season is forecasted to be more active than usual. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts 17 to 24 named storms, which is above the average of 14. This increased activity is attributed to record warm water temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and the potential formation of La Niña, a weather pattern that creates favorable conditions for storm development.
Key points
- Tropical Storm Ernesto has formed in the Atlantic, threatening the Caribbean with heavy rainfall and potential flooding.
- Ernesto is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Thursday, potentially reaching Category 2 status by Friday.
- The 2024 hurricane season is predicted to be more active than usual, with 17-24 named storms forecasted.
- While not directly threatening the continental US, Ernesto may cause dangerous rip currents along the East Coast.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported wind speeds and movement of Ernesto, with sources citing speeds ranging from 28-44 mph.
