The National Hurricane Center identified Potential Tropical Cyclone Five Sunday afternoon in the tropical Atlantic, allowing the first batch of tropical storm watches to be issued for a portion of the Leeward Islands.
Though not quite organized enough to be deemed a tropical depression, the system is forecast to eventually evolve into a named storm.
The system is forecast to strengthen and could become Tropical Storm Ernesto as early as Tuesday -- the fifth of the 2024 Atlantic season.
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Potential Tropical Cyclone Five in the central Atlantic is roughly 435 miles to east-southeast of Antigua and 730 miles east of San Juan.
Tropical storm warnings are now in effect from Guadeloupe north and west to Puerto Rico.
The system has sustained winds at 35 mph and it is moving west very quickly at 26 mph.
Local
The track and intensity forecast takes our cyclone over the northern Leeward Islands Tuesday and then potentially the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Wednesday.
The main impacts for this region will be tropical storm winds, 1-3 feet of surge and heavy rainfall -- 10” or more of rainfall is possible, especially for Puerto Rico.
PTC5 is expected to turn sharply to the north by the middle of the week, continue to intensify.
Bermuda is currently in the crosshairs and will need to pay attention. Hurricane hunters are currently investigating the system.
