Tropical Storm Ernesto Threatens Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands

Tropical Storm Ernesto poses a significant threat to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with heavy rainfall, dangerous storm surges, and strong winds. The U.S. territory has closed schools, prepared for power outages, and received emergency federal support. Ernesto is expected to intensify into a hurricane soon.

Tropical Storm Ernesto threatened on Tuesday to bring heavy rainfall, dangerous storm surges, and strong winds to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, leading the U.S. territory to close schools and prepare for power outages. Hurricane conditions were possible as the storm was expected to pass over or near the Virgin Islands, Culebra, and Vieques on Tuesday evening, likely bringing it just northeast of Puerto Rico, according to the National Hurricane Center.

As of Tuesday night, Ernesto packed sustained winds of 65 mph (105 kph), centered 60 miles (96 kilometers) east-northeast of San Juan, and moving northwest at 17 mph (28 kph). A storm is categorized as a hurricane when sustained winds reach 74 mph (119 kph), which it could achieve early Wednesday morning.

President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration late Tuesday for Puerto Rico, facilitating federal support for any recovery efforts. The storm is expected to strengthen further after passing Puerto Rico and moving north into the Atlantic. Bermuda could also be impacted, though it is too early to forecast those effects, according to the hurricane center.

"We anticipate a rapid intensification over the next 12 hours to potential Category I hurricane," said Daryl Jaschen, director of the U.S. Virgin Islands Emergency Management Agency, during a briefing. The region could receive up to 8 inches (20 cm) of rain. Airports and seaports closed on Tuesday afternoon, and schools will remain closed through Wednesday.

Ernesto is the second named Atlantic storm in a week. Last week, Hurricane Debby hit Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 1 hurricane, later soaking parts of the Carolinas. LUMA Energy has mobilized crews to prepare for potential power outages in Puerto Rico. As of 10 p.m. on Tuesday, nearly 11,300 clients were already without power, according to the company.

Joseph Niskar, a lawyer who moved to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017, is preparing for prolonged periods without water or electricity. "I bought a generator big enough to run my refrigerator and fans, but gasoline can be hard to get as many people wait until the last minute," Niskar said.

Like Debby, Ernesto's primary threat is torrential rain, raising risks of flash floods and landslides, especially in Puerto Rico's mountainous areas. Some spots could see up to 10 inches (25 cm) of rainfall, with storm surges potentially raising water levels by as much as 3 feet (1 meter) on the eastern coast.

On Monday, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi activated over 200 National Guard members and expedited food benefits for families. Government workers, except essential personnel, were given the day off, and the first day of school has been postponed. Puerto Rico's power grid vulnerability is a major concern; storms like Hurricane Fiona in 2022 and Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 resulted in severe outages.

Since Hurricane Fiona, Congress has approved $1 billion to stabilize Puerto Rico's grid. Previous hurricanes destroyed the grid and caused prolonged outages, some lasting nearly a year.

(With inputs from agencies.)