Tropical Storm Ernesto 8 a.m. Aug. 14, 2024. © PHOTO PROVIDED BY NOAA / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Puerto Rico) – Tropical Storm Ernesto is expected to gain hurricane status sometime late Wednesday and forecasters warn that it can even reach “major” status over the next few days. Storms cross that threshold once winds reach 111 miles per hour or higher, also marked as Category 3 status.
According to the hurricane center, the storm is expected to pour between 4 and 6 inches of rain over the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and up to 10 inches across southeastern Puerto Rico. President Biden approved an emergency declaration, giving FEMA the green light to help with recovery efforts. This is the fifth named storm so far this hurricane season, which started off with Beryl hitting record strength. Scientists say that above-average temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are to blame for the uptick in activity in the Atlantic.
