Breakfast News: Ernesto, a tropical storm, is the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Breakfast News: Ernesto, a tropical storm, is the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Puerto Rico’s San Juan (AP) — In the Atlantic Ocean, close to Puerto Rico and the Leeward Islands, tropical storm Ernesto has formed. The storm may cause mudslides and flash floods on the islands, according to a report released on Monday by the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Between 17 and 25 named storms, including up to 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes, are expected this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

THIS IS AN UPDATE ON BREAKING NEWS. The previous AP story is below.

Puerto Rico’s San Juan (AP) — Forecasters warned that Puerto Rico would be slammed by what is likely to become a tropical storm shortly, so the U.S. territory deployed the National Guard and canceled the start of public school sessions on Monday.

A disturbance in the Atlantic is predicted by the National Hurricane Center to develop into a tropical depression later on Monday and to intensify into a tropical storm as it gets closer to the northeast Caribbean.

Barbuda, Anguilla, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, St. Barts and St. Maarten.

Officials in the French Caribbean said the disturbance is expected to drench Guadeloupe on Monday and pass near St. Barts and St. Martin. The National Hurricane Center said the disturbance is forecast to approach Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands on Tuesday evening.

Forecasters warned the system is expected to unleash floods and landslides.

“We cannot let our guard down,” Nino Correa, Puerto Rico’s emergency management commissioner, said at a news conference.

Ernesto Morales, with the National Weather Service in San Juan, said between six to eight inches of rain are expected, with higher amounts in isolated areas. He also warned of hurricane-strength wind gusts as the storm is expected to hit northeast Puerto Rico and move across the U.S. territory late Tuesday and early Wednesday.

He urged people to prepare and stay alert given ongoing uncertainties over the approaching system.

“This trajectory is not written in stone and will be changing,” he said.