Tropical Storm Ernesto - 1100 AM AST
(8/3/12) Another tropical storm is passing through the caribbean and is brushing up against the Southern part of the Dominican Republic. Tropical Storm Ernesto is moving at about 21 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50mph.
At this point the storm is heading away from the windward islands and all tropical storm warnings have been discontinued. While the storm is moving away the DR could still continue to feel the tropical storm force winds which are extending outward up to 85 miles from the center of Ernesto.
For areas in the path of the storm: It is expected that the intensity will remain the same through out today with some strengthening expected later. By this time the storm should be moving away from the DR and into the gulf.
There is still a possiblity of rainfall accumulations to reach 2-3 inches and up to 5 inches in isolated areas.
Tropical Storm Ernesto map as of 8/6/12
Tropical Storm Ernesto 8/6/2012
Hurricane Ernesto 8/7/12
Hurricane Ernesto 8/7/12
Tropical Storm Ernesto 8/9/12
Tropical Storm Ernesto 8/9/12
August 3rd, 2012 at 11:40 am
Looking pretty dry right now in the La Vega area. Maybe ernesto is finished with us now!
August 4th, 2012 at 8:46 am
Looks like we may continue to get rain from Ernest through Sunday. It has been rainy in my area most of today (saturday), nothing heavy just a steady shower. I’m guessing Santo Domingo and the southern coast of the DR is getting hit a bit harder.
August 4th, 2012 at 8:52 am
On another note, Ernesto is traveling much closer to Jamaica and will likely start getting hit pretty hard sometime Sunday. There is currently a tropical storm warning for Jamaica.
There is also a possibility of Tropical Storm Ernesto turning into a Hurricane in the Western Caribbean.
August 5th, 2012 at 9:18 am
As of the 11am EDT summary Tropical Storm Ernesto is rapidly moving westward.
There is a tropical storm watch in affect for Grand Cayman, a storm warning for Jamaica and a storm watch fro the coast of Honduras from the Honduras/Nicaragua border west to Punta Castilla
August 6th, 2012 at 5:41 am
There were some new warnings issued with the 5am EST update on Tropical Storm Ernesto.
Tropical Storm Ernesto should be passing north of the coast of Honduras tonight. Honduras has issued a tropical storm warning for the coast of Honduras from the Honduras/Nicaragua border west to Punta Sal, this warning includes the Bay Island. The warning also continues west of Punta Sal to the Honduras/Guatemala border.
Mexico has issued a hurricane watch for the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Chetumal North to Punta Gruesa, and a tropical storm watch north of Punta Gruesa to Tulum.
Jamaica has discontinues the its tropical storm warning.
August 6th, 2012 at 8:43 am
As of the 11am EDT Advisory Mexico has upgraded the Hurricane watch to a hurricane warning for the same areas noted in my last comment.
In addition Belize has issued a hurricane warning for the entire coast of Belize.
The Cayman Islands has been able to discontinue the tropical storm watch for Grand Cayman as Tropical Storm Ernesto passes by.
August 7th, 2012 at 5:40 pm
The 1:55 EST special advisory changed Tropical Storm Ernesto into Hurricane Ernesto.
The Hurricane warning has now been extended to include Cozumel
The hurricane force winds have continued to increase as Hurricane Ernest gets ready to slam into the Southern Yucatan Peninsula by the 8:12 pm EST advisory the wind speed has picked up to maximum sustained winds of 85 mph. Ernesto is continuing to strengthen and is expected to read land this evening.
At this point Ernesto is considered a category 1 hurricane.