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Forecasters say Ernesto, the second named Atlantic storm in a week, could drop 6 to 8 inches of rain on southeastern Puerto Rico.

Tropical Storm Ernesto strengthened and unloaded heavy rain over the northeast Caribbean islands Tuesday as authorities in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands prepared for the arrival of hurricane conditions.

The storm is "expected to strengthen while it passes northeast of Puerto Rico overnight" the National Hurricane Center said in its 11 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time advisory when Ernesto was 35 miles northwest of St. Thomas and 60 miles east-northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The storm's center was forecast to pass the northeast and north of Puerto Rico through early Wednesday, according to the hurricane center. "Ernesto should then move over the western Atlantic later in the week and approach Bermuda on Friday," the center said.

Forecasters say Ernesto, the second named Atlantic storm in a week, could cause flooding and mudslides by dropping 4 to 6 inches of rain on the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, as well as 6 to 8 inches on southeastern Puerto Rico. Tropical storm conditions were forecast to continue spreading across the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, as well as Culebra and Vieques − islands that are part of Puerto Rico − through the overnight hours.

Ernesto developed into a tropical storm Monday night as it sped toward the northern Leeward Islands before passing near Guadeloupe and Montserrat early Tuesday. The storm strengthened and organized through the morning hours, bringing sustained winds of up to 60 mph as it barreled toward the Virgin Islands and 65 mph when closing in on Puerto Rico in the evening.

Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi canceled Tuesday's first day of class in public schools, activated the National Guard and announced the opening of hundreds of shelters across the island. The government of the U.S. Virgin Islands also closed schools Tuesday, and Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. urged residents to take the storm seriously.

LUMA Energy, the private operator of Puerto Rico's transmission and distribution system, said on X that it had activated its emergency operations and mobilized crews in anticipation of the storm. The power company also advised residents to brace for power outages.

As a result of Ernesto's development, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Culebra and Vieques were placed under hurricane watches. "If you're in those areas, you need to go ahead and get prepared for a potential for hurricane conditions," NHC Deputy Director Jamie Rhome said during a livestream.