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.