Tropical Storm Ernesto pummels northeast Caribbean and leaves hundreds of thousands in the dark [Video]

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Tropical Storm Ernesto dropped torrential rain on eastern Puerto Rico early Wednesday and left hundreds of thousands of people without power in the U.S. territory as it threatened to strengthen into a major hurricane en route to Bermuda.

A hurricane watch remained in effect for the British Virgin Islands as Ernesto began moving over open waters.

The storm was located about 85 miles (135 kilometers) north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico. It had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph) and was moving northwest at 16 mph (26 kph).

“While it is possible Ernesto is already a hurricane, radar data does not yet support an upgrade,” the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

Ernesto is expected to become a hurricane later Wednesday morning.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.

Ernesto …