KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Tropical Storm Ernesto is forecast to strengthen to a hurricane as it moves south of Jamaica tomorrow evening. It could strike Mexico's Yucutan Peninsula on Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane.
The islands in the eastern Caribbean are preparing for heavy rain as the storm moves through the region.
Long lines formed at grocery stores in the Jamaican capital of Kingston today as people bought water, bread and canned goods.
The National Hurricane Center says Ernesto has maximum sustained winds of about 60 mph. It's about 495 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and is moving westward at 18 mph.
Meanwhile, a new tropical storm, Florence, has formed far out in the Atlantic. It has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and is about 515 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands. The hurricane center says it's not expected to reach hurricane force as it moves generally westward.
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%@AP Links
252-a-15-(Jack Beven (BEH'-vehn), senior hurricane specialist, National Hurricane Center, in AP interview)-"and Caribbean Sea"-Senior Hurricane specialist Jack Beven, at the National Hurricane Center, says Tropical Storm Ernesto has prompted storm warnings for Jamaica as it continues heading west. (4 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *252 (08/04/12)>> 00:15 "and Caribbean Sea"
255-a-18-(Jack Beven (BEH'-vehn), senior hurricane specialist, National Hurricane Center, in AP interview)-"next several days"-Senior Hurricane specialist Jack Beven, at the National Hurricane Center, says Tropical Storm Florence is west of the Cape Verde Islands and not expected to threaten land at this point. ((note length of cut)) (4 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *255 (08/04/12)>> 00:18 "next several days"
253-a-11-(Jack Beven (BEH'-vehn), senior hurricane specialist, National Hurricane Center, in AP interview)-"the present time"-Senior Hurricane specialist Jack Beven, at the National Hurricane Center, says Tropical Storm Ernesto's current path has it traveling toward the west over the next few days. ((watch for dating)) (4 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *253 (08/04/12)>> 00:11 "the present time"
