Tropical Storm Ernesto expected to strengthen as it approaches Bermuda
Tropical Storm Ernesto formed on Aug. 12, and AccuWeather forecasters say it could strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane over the coming week.
Transcript
00:00Well, we are now tracking Ernesto and the name Ernesto has a history.
00:07We've had a two hurricanes since the year 2000 and that was back in 2006 with Hurricane
00:13Ernesto that did take a track through the Caribbean and then even rolling through Florida.
00:19Though in 2012 it took a more westerly track, but Ernesto we are forecasting to continue
00:25to track a little bit further west and then it's going to take a north northeasterly track.
00:31Now we do have some tropical storm warnings in effect that does include Puerto Rico and
00:36the Leeward Islands.
00:37So the northern and lesser Antilles, that's where we're tracking some of those impacts,
00:42especially when it comes to storm surge.
00:44We could see storm surge upwards of three to six feet.
00:47Now into next Monday, we are forecasting Ernesto to continue to strengthen.
00:52It has really nothing fighting it after it moves over the lands of Puerto Rico and the
00:58Leeward Islands.
00:59Then it moves north and we are expecting it to strengthen here pretty quickly as it moves
01:03over the warm waters of the Atlantic and also it doesn't have a lot of wind shear to fight
01:08it and plenty of moisture.
01:10Category three, a major hurricane as it approaches Bermuda, that's going to be a concern that
01:15we're keeping a close eye out on as we do have a high risk to lives and property there.
01:20And even for the northeastern Caribbean, you're actually the real impact scale at
01:24a one where we do have a moderate risk to lives and property.
01:27That does include the Leeward Islands and also Puerto Rico.
01:31Now Bermuda again, we could see that high risk to lives and property and it's no surprise
01:37because we are forecasting winds there to reach over 100 miles per hour.
01:42On top of that, we are tracking some very heavy rain along this path and also some pretty
01:47gusty winds.