Afternoon Update: Ernesto, a tropical storm, is approaching Puerto Rico. Here’s where it might go after that…

Afternoon Update: Ernesto, a tropical storm, is approaching Puerto Rico. Here’s where it might go after that.

As a predicted extremely active hurricane season intensifies, Tropical Storm Ernesto has formed in the Atlantic and is swiftly moving through the Caribbean islands and into Puerto Rico with strong winds, heavy rain, and hazardous surf.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm’s center is moving across the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean on Tuesday morning, with maximum winds of about 40 mph. Forecasters at the center reported that the storm was moving quickly west at 20 mph.

Tropical storm conditions, including strong gusts and rain, are being brought to the Leeward Islands by the swiftly approaching system on Tuesday morning. By Tuesday night, those conditions will extend to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Early track predictions indicate that Ernesto will curve rather than go along Debby’s continental U.S.-bound course.

north and intensify into a hurricane over very warm ocean water, potentially placing Bermuda in harm’s way, instead.

Puerto Rico and the Leeward Islands, an island chain in the northeast Caribbean that includes the United States and the British Virgin Islands, are under tropical storm warning. Tropical storm conditions are expected soon, according to these advisories. With sustained winds of up to 73 mph and much higher gusts, tropical storms have the capacity to bring down trees and electrical lines, damage certain buildings, and cause other problems. In the upcoming days, more watches and warnings can be issued.

The biggest hazard for portions of the eastern and northern Caribbean this week appears to be heavy rainfall. Most of Puerto Rico will see four to six inches of rain, with some areas perhaps seeing up to 10 inches.

“Excessive precipitation can cause significant flash flooding and mudslides in certain areas.”