Tropical Storm Ernesto drenches northeast Caribbean and takes aim at Puerto Rico

A satellite image provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows Tropical Storm Ernesto over the Atlantic Ocean (AP)

Tropical Storm Ernesto battered the northeast Caribbean on Tuesday as it took aim at Puerto Rico, where officials closed schools, opened shelters and moved dozens of the US territory’s endangered parrots into hurricane-proof rooms.

Ernesto is expected to become a hurricane early on Wednesday as the centre of the storm moves just north of Puerto Rico on a path towards Bermuda.