Tropical storm developing in Atlantic, expected to approach U.S. Virgin Islands

As the East Coast continues to recover from Hurricane Debby, the next potential tropical cyclone is developing in the Atlantic. Potential Tropical Cyclone Five is expected to become a named tropical storm named Ernesto by Monday with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph, needing to reach 39 mph to be classified as a tropical storm. The storm is forecasted to hit several Caribbean islands, prompting a 48-hour U.S. tropical storm watch for potential damaging winds, high surf, and heavy rainfall. The storm is expected to reach the islands by early Tuesday afternoon and residents of the Leeward Islands, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico are advised to monitor the situation as the storm potentially moves towards them by Wednesday. The track of the storm is projected to turn northward into the Atlantic, staying offshore from the mainland U.S. The formation of the potential cyclone aligns with NOAA’s forecast for an above-normal hurricane season, with Colorado State University also predicting a high probability of major hurricane landfalls. The warm sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic are providing favorable conditions for storm development and intensification, setting the stage for a potentially active hurricane season.

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