Tropical Storm Ernesto could strengthen and become hurricane

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Ernesto remained a Tropical Storm on Tuesday evening after forming in the Atlantic Ocean on Monday with the potential to develop quickly into a Category 2 or 3 hurricane.

The storm is expected to bring tropical conditions to the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Warnings have already been issued in those areas.

Ernesto could impact Bermuda but it's too soon to tell, the NHC said in a social media post.

After passing Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, ABC11 Meteorologist Kweliyn Murphy said the storm will move northward over the West Atlantic on Wednesday.

As of 11 p.m. Tuesday, Ernesto had strengthened with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and was moving northwest at 17 mph.

Ernesto could reach hurricane strength by Wednesday.

Large swells will increase the risk of rip currents to North Carolina beaches starting Friday and through the weekend.

The storm comes days after Debby moved up the East Coast unleashing tornadoes and flooding in multiple states.

Hurricane Debby, which entered North Carolina as a tropical storm, weakened into a tropical depression, has moved out of the U.S. over the weekend.

The storm spawned several tornadoes and caused major flooding across North Carolina.

The National Weather Service determined that one tornado that killed a man in Wilson County was an EF-3 strength and another in Sampson County was confirmed as an EF-2 strength.

Those tornadoes are two of at least seven that happened across the state when Debby pushed through the region.

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