Tropical Storm Ernesto A few days later, it was passing through the Caribbean early Wednesday morning Debbie He ended his journey on the East Coast of America. Ernesto was expected to become a hurricane sometime Wednesday morning as it passed north of Puerto Rico, the National Hurricane Center said, adding that it could become a major hurricane “within a couple of days.”

The hurricane center reported “heavy rain” on the eastern side of Puerto Rico Wednesday morning.

The White House announced Tuesday night that President Biden has approved a declaration of emergency for the US territory.

As of 5 a.m. EDT, forecasters said Ernesto had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, just shy of the 74 mph needed to be classified as a hurricane, and was moving northwest at 16 mph. It was centered about 85 miles north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, the hurricane center said.

A storm must have sustained winds of 111 mph to be considered a major hurricane.

“On the forecast track,” the Miami-based hurricane center said, “Ernesto’s center will move north of Puerto Rico today. Ernesto should move over the western Atlantic later in the week and approach Bermuda on Saturday.”

A hurricane watch was in effect for the British Virgin Islands. A tropical storm warning has been issued for the US and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra.

“Rain will be a much bigger player than wind” for Ernesto, CBS News senior meteorologist David Parkinson said.

The storm is expected to dump 4 to 6 inches of rain in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and up to 10 inches across southeastern Puerto Rico, the hurricane center said.

“Minor coastal flooding is possible in windward areas along the eastern coast of Puerto Rico, including Culebra and Vieques Islands, and in the U.S. Virgin Islands, including St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix,” the center added.

Parkinson said, “The U.S. is out of the danger zone for direct impacts, but currents and large waves along the eastern seaboard will be a concern.”

Ernesto marks the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season so far, which has already been proven History after Beryl reached record strength Above average temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico at the start of the season. NOAA predicts an above-normal season with 17-25 named storms, eight to 13 hurricanes and four to seven major hurricanes.

A fifth named storm usually does not form until then August 22According to NOAA.