Puerto Rico cancels classes, activates National Guard as tropical storm Ernesto nears
The National Hurricane Center forecasts that Ernesto will approach Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands on Tuesday evening.
Forecasters predict that Ernesto could intensify into a hurricane by early Thursday as it turns northward toward Bermuda. (AP photo) Puerto Rico has activated the National Guard and cancelled the start of public school classes as Tropical Storm Ernesto approaches the island. The storm, which formed in the Atlantic on Monday, is the fifth named storm of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season.
Tropical storm warnings are in effect for Puerto Rico, the US and British Virgin Islands, Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, St. Barts, and St. Maarten.
Ernesto, currently located about 295 miles (475 kilometres) off Antigua, is packing maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and moving west-northwest at 28 mph (44 kph).
The National Hurricane Center forecasts that Ernesto will approach Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands on Tuesday evening, bringing the threat of floods and landslides.
Ernesto Morales of the National Weather Service in San Juan has warned residents to prepare for six to eight inches of rain, with heavier downpours in some areas, along with hurricane-strength wind gusts expected to impact northeast Puerto Rico late Tuesday into early Wednesday.
“We cannot let our guard down,” cautioned Nino Correa, Puerto Rico’s emergency management commissioner, during a news conference. Correa emphasised the need for vigilance, given the unpredictable nature of the storm’s path.
In the neighbouring US Virgin Islands, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. urged residents to treat the storm with caution, describing it as a critical test of preparedness before the peak of the hurricane season.
Forecasters predict that Ernesto could intensify into a hurricane by early Thursday as it turns northward toward Bermuda.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an above-average hurricane season, with 17 to 25 named storms and four to seven major hurricanes, fueled by record-warm ocean temperatures.
As Puerto Rico braces for Ernesto’s impact, officials are urging residents to stay informed and take necessary precautions.
(With inputs from AP)
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