Tropical Storm Ernesto has strengthened and is heading towards the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, bringing with it powerful winds and heavy rainfall. The storm is expected to bring up to 10 inches of rain in some areas, potentially intensifying into a hurricane after leaving the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Ernesto is the fifth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season and follows closely after Hurricane Debby, which caused devastating flooding in parts of the southeastern United States last week. However, the National Hurricane Center has stated that Ernesto is not expected to directly impact the mainland U.S.

The storm's path, according to the latest forecasts, suggests that it will continue towards the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, as well as Puerto Rico, after crossing portions of the Leeward Islands. It is predicted that Ernesto will reach or pass over the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by this evening. However, there is also a possibility that the storm's track will carry it near the islands instead of directly over them.

The potential for Ernesto to develop into a hurricane exists once its maximum sustained wind speeds reach or exceed 74 miles per hour. This could occur by Wednesday, although initial forecasts suggest that the storm may not reach hurricane status until early Thursday.

As of 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Tropical Storm Ernesto is located in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 85 miles east of St. Croix and about 175 miles east-southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is traveling west-northwestward at a speed of 18 mph with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph.

Hurricane watches have been issued for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Culebra, Vieques, and the British Virgin Islands. Tropical storm warnings are also in effect for these areas, as well as for Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Sint Maarten, Antigua, Barbuda, and Guadeloupe. Previous tropical storm warnings for Antigua, Barbuda, and Guadeloupe have been discontinued.

Hurricane watches are typically issued when hurricane conditions are possible within 12 hours or so. Tropical storm warnings are issued when tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours. Meteorologists have indicated that tropical storm conditions are expected to begin impacting the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by nighttime, possibly even sooner. Powerful winds and other weather conditions associated with tropical storms are already being experienced in the Leeward Islands.

The tropical-storm-force winds of Ernesto extend outward up to 105 miles from its center, an expansion from its previous reach of 70 miles earlier in the day. These strong winds pose a significant threat, particularly in areas prone to flooding.

Similar to Hurricane Debby, which brought historic rainfall to several southeastern U.S. states last week, Ernesto's primary hazard is excessive rainfall. The storm is expected to drop 4 to 6 inches of rain in parts of the Leeward Islands and the Virgin Islands, while southeastern Puerto Rico may see 6 to 8 inches of rainfall. However, certain areas may experience up to 10 inches of rainfall, leading to potential flash flooding and mudslides in affected regions.

CBS News senior weather producer David Parkinson mentioned that areas with favorable terrain could receive even more than a foot of rainfall. Northwestern Puerto Rico is expected to receive less rainfall, with predictions of 2 to 4 inches in total.

The National Hurricane Center has warned of storm surge along the eastern coast of Puerto Rico from San Juan to Guayama, as well as for the islands of Culebra and Vieques. This surge may reach heights of 1 to 3 feet above ground levels, accompanied by large destructive waves in coastal areas. Similar surge conditions are expected for the U.S. Virgin Islands, including St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, as well as for the British Virgin Islands.

By Thursday morning, Tropical Storm Ernesto is forecasted to have strengthened into at least a Category 1 hurricane. It is expected to continue tracking northward over the western Atlantic, with a potential landfall in Bermuda by Sunday. Parkinson noted that the eastern seaboard of the mainland U.S. may experience rip currents and larger waves than usual due to indirect effects of the storm.

The National Hurricane Center has advised that it is too early to determine the exact impacts Ernesto may have on Bermuda later this week. Interested parties are encouraged to monitor the progress of this developing storm system.