Forecasters issue tropical storm warnings for northeast Caribbean region

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Forecasters on Monday issued a tropical storm warning for several islands in the northeast Caribbean as a disturbance approaches the region.

The warning was in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, St Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, St Martin, St Barts and St Maarten.

A tropical storm watch was issued for Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands.

The National Hurricane Center said the disturbance is expected to become a tropical depression later Monday and then strengthen into a tropical storm as it nears the northeast Caribbean. It is then forecast to become a hurricane early Thursday as it turns north toward Bermuda.

The disturbance is slated to become Ernesto, the fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Forecasters warned the system is expected to unleash floods and landslides.

Officials in the French Caribbean said the disturbance is expected to drench Guadeloupe on Monday and pass near St Barts and St Martin.

The National Hurricane Center said the disturbance is forecast to approach Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands on Tuesday evening.

The disturbance is located about 525 miles (845 kilometres) east-southeast of Antigua. It has maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 kph) and is moving west at 26 mph (43 kph).

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year because of record warm ocean temperatures. It forecast 17 to 25 named storms, with four to seven major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.

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