Tropical Storm Ernesto was on the verge of strengthening into a hurricane shortly after brushing Puerto Rico Tuesday night, as authorities closed schools, opened shelters and moved dozens of endangered parrots from the U.S. territory into hurricane-proof rooms.
Ernesto is expected to strengthen into a hurricane overnight as the storm’s center moves just northeast of Puerto Rico toward Bermuda. Forecasters have issued hurricane warnings for the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, as well as the smaller Puerto Rican islands of Vieques and Culebra, which are popular with tourists.
“Since there is some possibility thatErnesto becomes a hurricane while near the Virgin Islands, a hurricane warning remains in effect,” the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
The storm moved over the U.S. Virgin Islands Tuesday night. After passing Puerto Rico, it is expected to move toward open waters and be near Bermuda on Friday.
Heavy rains began to pound Puerto Rico, and strong winds turned the ocean a milky turquoise as people rushed to finish securing homes and businesses.
Ernesto was located about 95 kilometers east-northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, late Tuesday night. It had maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour (kph) and the storm was moving northwest at 28 kph.
“We’re going to have a lot of rain,” Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi said, urging people to stay indoors starting Tuesday night.
He activated the National Guard as teams across the island visited flood zones and older residents as part of last-minute preparations. Meanwhile, Department of Natural Resources officials working at breeding centers for the island’s only native parrot, the Puerto Rican Amazon, moved them indoors.
Ernesto Rodriguez of the National Weather Service warned that the storm’s path could change as it approaches Puerto Rico.
“We must not let our guard down,” he said.
Extended power outages anticipated
Forecasters warned that waves could reach 20 feet, widespread flooding and landslides could occur. Rainfall is expected to reach 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters) in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) in isolated areas. Puerto Rico has six reservoirs that were already overflowing before the storm.
Puerto Rican authorities have warned of widespread power outages due to the collapse of the electrical grid, which crews are still repairing after Hurricane Maria ravaged it in September 2017 as a Category 4 storm.
Juan Saca, president of Luma Energy, a private company that manages electricity transmission and distribution in Puerto Rico, urged residents to report power outages: “Puerto Rico’s electrical system is not modernized enough to detect power outages,” he said.
Power outages were also a concern in the neighboring U.S. Virgin Islands for similar reasons, with power outages reported in St. Thomas and St. John on Monday.
The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency echoed those warnings, saying residents of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands “should prepare for extended power outages.”
Early Tuesday, Ernesto flooded the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, where authorities closed several major roads and warned that drinking water quality would be affected for several days. Meanwhile, the storm downed some trees in Antigua and knocked out power to most of the island. Ernesto also forced the cancellation of dozens of flights to and from Puerto Rico.
Ernesto is the fifth named storm of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year due to record-breaking ocean temperatures. It has forecast 17 to 25 named storms, with four to seven major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.