Tropical Storm Ernesto Brings Serious Threats to Caribbean Islands

Tropical Storm Ernesto is predicted to bring heavy rainfall, dangerous storm surges, and strong winds to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The storm could strengthen into a hurricane, leading to threats of power outages, flash floods, and landslides. Emergency protocols have been activated in Puerto Rico.

Tropical Storm Ernesto on Tuesday threatened to bring heavy rainfall, dangerous storm surges, and strong winds to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, resulting in preparations for power outages in the U.S. territory.

The storm, last observed northwest of Guadalupe with winds of 45 mph (75 kph), could become a hurricane by Thursday after passing over Puerto Rico and heading north into the Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center. Ernesto, the season's fifth named storm, is projected to avoid Florida and the southeastern U.S., which are still recovering from Tropical Storm Debby.

Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi announced on X that emergency protocols had been activated and food benefits expedited for families. Puerto Rico's fragile power grid, compromised by past destructive storms such as Hurricane Fiona in 2022 and Hurricane Maria in 2017, faces a significant threat. LUMA Energy, the island's power system operator, has also initiated its emergency operations and mobilized crews in anticipation of the storm.