ORLANDO, Fla. – Tropical Storm Ernesto is expected to strengthen soon, becoming the next hurricane of the season.
Ernesto continues to bring tropical storm conditions to the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico through Tuesday as warnings remain in place. It is expected to move across or near the U.S. and British Virgin Islands by Tuesday night, and Puerto Rico on Wednesday.
Ernesto will begin to take a sharper north turn by Wednesday as a cold front off the eastern seaboard blocks the system from near the coastline. Ernesto is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane by Tuesday night with winds exceeding 80 mph, with additional strengthening as it approaches Bermuda by Saturday.
Although Ernesto is expected to remain more than 700 miles away from the Florida coast, long period swells that will produce rough surf, choppy seas and a high risk of rip currents.
[RELATED: Tropical Storm Ernesto forms in the Atlantic. Here’s what it means for Florida]
Climatologically speaking, more than 85% of tropical activity occurs from the middle of August through the season’s end.
Hurricane season runs through November.
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