Ernesto becomes a hurricane north of Puerto Rico

Ernesto has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane. It passed by Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands early Wednesday, bringing torrential rainfall and tropical storm force winds. It continues to produce widespread flash flooding across the eastern Caribbean.

Ernesto formed in the western Atlantic Ocean, becoming a tropical storm on Monday, Aug. 12, and became a hurricane on Wednesday, Aug. 14. It’s the fifth named storm and third hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

Ernesto is moving northwest to the north Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with max winds of 75 mph. It’s expected to strengthen as it moves further into the western Atlantic. It could become a major hurricane as it approaches Bermuda.

Widespread, heavy rainfall could lead to more flash flooding and mudslides across Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands through Wednesday morning and early afternoon. The storm has brought rough coastal conditions as well across the eastern Caribbean.

Most models have Ernesto passing near Bermuda as a hurricane Friday night into early Saturday morning.

Ernesto isn’t expected to directly impact the U.S., but large swells will reach the East Coast late this week into the weekend that will cause life-threatening surf and dangerous rip currents.

Here’s a look at the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season so far.

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