Residents were urged this afternoon to ramp up their storm preparations as a weather system unrelated to Tropical Storm Ernesto — forecast to become a hurricane later this week — was expected to cross Bermuda tonight.

The National Hurricane Centre said earlier that Ernesto was likely to impact the island, although it was still about 1,070 miles south of the island when the Bermuda Weather Service published its midday update.

A government spokesman said at about 1.20pm: “The Bermuda Government, through the Emergency Measures Organisation, continues to closely monitor Tropical Storm Ernesto, which has strengthened since the last update and is expected to approach Bermuda as a Category 2 hurricane by early Saturday morning.

“All residents are urged to accelerate their storm preparations considering this development.

“A weather front from the US East Coast is expected to move over Bermuda tonight, bringing torrential rainfall and intermittent showers over the next few days due to the system stalling over the Island.”

He added that the weather front was unrelated to Ernesto “but could potentially hamper hurricane preparations”.

The spokesman added: “Residents are, therefore, urged to get ready for the impending hurricane as soon as possible.”

Ernesto was likely to bring “impacts to Bermuda later this week and interests there should monitor the progress of the system”, the NHC said earlier.

The BWS’s midday update said that the closest point of approach to Bermuda within the next 72 hours was forecast to be 280 miles to the south south-west, at noon on Friday.

It added: “However, this system may move closer to Bermuda after this time period depending upon its track.”

The BWS warned that Ernesto was “considered a potential threat to Bermuda within three to five days”. Current tracking predictions suggested it will brush past the island on Saturday.

Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, said this afternoon: "The heavy rains expected from tonight from this weather front are separate from what Hurricane Ernesto will bring.

“Residents need to prepare now before conditions worsen. Time is of the essence. Now is not the time for complacency.

“Residents must not underestimate Hurricane Ernesto's potential impact. With the combination of the unrelated weather front and the impending hurricane, it is crucial that everyone remains prepared and follows official guidance.

“I urge everyone to ensure they have adequate hurricane supplies, including tarpaulins, rope, water, batteries, portable power banks, food and medicine.

“These items are critical for weathering the storm and its aftermath."

The Emergency Measures Organisation executive will convene tomorrow morning to assess the latest developments.

In its latest update, the NHC advised that tropical storm conditions would continue over the Leeward Islands today and spread west to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

It warned that heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding and mudslides in the Caribbean countries.

Tropical Storm Ernesto is the fifth named storm of the 2024 hurricane season, following Hurricane Beryl, Hurricane Debby, Tropical Storm Alberto and Tropical Storm Chris.

Forecasters at Colorado State University warned that Hurricane Beryl, the earliest category five hurricane on record which battered the Caribbean recently, was a “likely harbinger” of a hyperactive season fuelled by warmer than average waters.

The CSU originally predicted 23 named storms for the 2024, which started on June 1, including 11 hurricanes, five of which were expected to reach at least Category 3 strength.

However, in a revised forecast released by the CSU, it predicted 25 named storms, including 12 hurricanes, half of which would become major hurricanes.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the modern average of about 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

The US-based NHC forecast an 85 per cent chance of a busier than average season with between 17 and 25 named storms, while the UK Met Office forecast 22 named storms during the season.