Florida prepares for Ernesto
8:36 p.m. ET 8/28/06
Tom Moore, Senior Meteorologist, The Weather Channel
Tropical Storm Ernesto (40 mph) continues a west- northwest trek over eastern Cuba. Heavy rainfall on the order of 4 to 8 inches is the main threat. The storm remains rather weak and has been over land for awhile over eastern Cuba.
Ernesto may emerge over the warm waters of the Florida Straits by morning, and into south Florida by Tuesday night most likely as a stronger tropical storm. Look for increasing rain and stronger wind gusts over southern Florida by Tuesday afternoon.
Hurricane watches extend northward along the east coast of Florida as far north as New Smyrna Beach. Hurricane watches are in effect along the Florida coast from Chokoloskee (on the southwest coast) to New Smyrna Beach, for the Keys, and for Lake Okeechobee. Hurricane watches are also posted for Grand Bahama and Andros Island. A tropical storm watch is in effect on the west coast of Florida from Chokoloskee to Englewood.
In the western Pacific, after crossing the International Dateline from the central Pacific, Category Five Hurricane Ioke became Super Typhoon Ioke (160 mph). Ioke, maintaining its strength, is forecast to swirl very close to or over Wake Island on Wednesday evening (U. S. time).
In the eastern Pacific, Tropical Storm John has formed about 315 miles SE of Acapulco, Mexico. John may become a hurricane by Tuesday night as it moves northwestward parallelling the west coast of Mexcio.
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