WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Tropical Storm Ernesto is working its way across the Leeward Islands on Tuesday.
Winds are near 60 mph, and it's moving to the west pretty quickly at roughly 20 miles an hour.
![ernesto.png](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f9cec9d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa8%2F20%2Ffbc774ac4655bfa15538d1344107%2Fernesto.png)
TRACKING THE TROPICS: Hurricane Center | Hurricane Guide
Ernesto is expected to make a run toward Puerto Rico as we head into tomorrow.
Tropical storm watches are in place from the Virgin Islands through Puerto Rico.
Tropical storm warnings are in places for the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico.
Hurricane watches are in effect for the US and British Virgin Islands.
Once it pulls away from Puerto Rico and starts to turn to the north, that's when it's expected to increase in intensity to a Category 1 hurricane.
![ernesto track.png](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2fc5cb9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2Fac%2F0b38c68b4960bb901d3fc718ec93%2Fernesto-track.png)
Then it will start to turn more to the northeast and eventually make a push up toward Bermuda, likely as a Category 2 hurricane with winds of over 100 mph.
Even though it's going to stay several hundred miles to the east of South Florida, it will increase our swells as we head toward this upcoming weekend.