As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, Tropical Storm Ernesto has strengthened with winds now sustained at 45 mph. The storm has also slowed in forward speed, now moving west at 18 mph. Ernesto is about 300 miles east of Puerto Rico where a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect.
Ernesto will bring 3-6" of rain with isolated pockets of up to 10" in Puerto Rico over the next 48 hours.
Ernesto will also bring tropical storm-force winds and the threat of rip currents.
There is good model consensus that the disturbance will take a turn to the north, getting swept up in an approaching trough.
While no direct impacts are expected for the U.S., there will still be an increased threat for rip currents this weekend off the East Coast.
Ernesto is projected to become a hurricane by Thursday and continue to intensify into the weekend. It's not out of the question for Ernesto to become a major hurricane over the open western Atlantic.
It is too soon to determine what impacts Ernesto will bring to Bermuda toward the end of the week.
This is the only system in the Atlantic at this time. We are less than one month out from the statistical peak of hurricane season. Be sure to check back into the forecast frequently.
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