Late tonight, Tropical Storm Ernesto was slightly stronger over the Eastern Caribbean. Here are the basic facts:
LOCATION
Near latitude 14.8N, longitude 69.1W or about 555 miles ESE of Kingston, Jamaica.
MOVEMENT
Toward the WNW at 16 mph.
WINDS/PRESSURE
Highest sustained winds increased to 45 mph. He should grow stronger in the next 24 hours. Estimated minimum pressure 29.52 inches.
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
Tropical Storm Warning along SW Peninsula of Haiti.
Tropical Storm Warning from the Haiti-Dominican Republic border west to the SW tip of Haiti.
TRACK FORECAST
The National Hurricane Center continues a track toward the NW possibly crossing Jamaica early Sunday. Passing along the west tip of Cuba Monday night and into the SE Gulf of Mexico Tuesday. Into the Central Gulf by Wednesday night. The usual caution: A frecast 5 days out can have considerable error. As this drama unfolds we will post increasing amounts of information on the 3340 blog and will increase the frequency of the posts.
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Looking toward our friend, the Gulf of Mexico.
Just about everybody—not just meteorologist will be looking toward the Gulf of Mexico all next week. There will be much anxiety on the future path of Ernesto and a lot of other people will be looking back with some very bad memories as the one-year anniversary of Katrina approaches.
Katrina roared ashore a year ago next Tuesday. We all know the tragic story.
During the coming week, you will see almost every major network, and especially the 24-hour news networks, anchoring their broadcasts from somewhere along the Gulf coast. Most likely location will be New Orleans. Hopefully this will again bring into sharp focus the huge recovery task still ahead.
Katrina formed over the Bahamas on August 23 last year, crossed South Florida as a category 1, then went on to become a category 5 and one of the strongest ever recorded while over the Central Gulf. Devastation was catastrophic from Dauphin Island, Alabama westward all along the Mississippi coast into South Louisiana. Damage from Katrina exceeded $80 billion with 1,800 or more persons killed. It was the costliest one in USA history.
So this week, nerves will again be on edge because of the uncertainty of Ernesto, the new kid on the block.
We in the weather business will be as busy as can be, but our heartfelt thoughts and prayers will be with all the people still struggling and suffering from Katrina. Keep a close watch on the ABC 33/40 weather blog all next week as this drama unfolds. We hope and pray that the devastated area will not be in the bull’s eye again.
Bill Murry will be back in the saddle for the Saturday afternoon forecast. I pitched in for him for the Saturday morning edition, while Bill enjoyed taking in a Colorado Rockies game in Denver.
LOCATION
Near latitude 14.8N, longitude 69.1W or about 555 miles ESE of Kingston, Jamaica.
MOVEMENT
Toward the WNW at 16 mph.
WINDS/PRESSURE
Highest sustained winds increased to 45 mph. He should grow stronger in the next 24 hours. Estimated minimum pressure 29.52 inches.
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
Tropical Storm Warning along SW Peninsula of Haiti.
Tropical Storm Warning from the Haiti-Dominican Republic border west to the SW tip of Haiti.
TRACK FORECAST
The National Hurricane Center continues a track toward the NW possibly crossing Jamaica early Sunday. Passing along the west tip of Cuba Monday night and into the SE Gulf of Mexico Tuesday. Into the Central Gulf by Wednesday night. The usual caution: A frecast 5 days out can have considerable error. As this drama unfolds we will post increasing amounts of information on the 3340 blog and will increase the frequency of the posts.
----------------------------------------------
Looking toward our friend, the Gulf of Mexico.
Just about everybody—not just meteorologist will be looking toward the Gulf of Mexico all next week. There will be much anxiety on the future path of Ernesto and a lot of other people will be looking back with some very bad memories as the one-year anniversary of Katrina approaches.
Katrina roared ashore a year ago next Tuesday. We all know the tragic story.
During the coming week, you will see almost every major network, and especially the 24-hour news networks, anchoring their broadcasts from somewhere along the Gulf coast. Most likely location will be New Orleans. Hopefully this will again bring into sharp focus the huge recovery task still ahead.
Katrina formed over the Bahamas on August 23 last year, crossed South Florida as a category 1, then went on to become a category 5 and one of the strongest ever recorded while over the Central Gulf. Devastation was catastrophic from Dauphin Island, Alabama westward all along the Mississippi coast into South Louisiana. Damage from Katrina exceeded $80 billion with 1,800 or more persons killed. It was the costliest one in USA history.
So this week, nerves will again be on edge because of the uncertainty of Ernesto, the new kid on the block.
We in the weather business will be as busy as can be, but our heartfelt thoughts and prayers will be with all the people still struggling and suffering from Katrina. Keep a close watch on the ABC 33/40 weather blog all next week as this drama unfolds. We hope and pray that the devastated area will not be in the bull’s eye again.
Bill Murry will be back in the saddle for the Saturday afternoon forecast. I pitched in for him for the Saturday morning edition, while Bill enjoyed taking in a Colorado Rockies game in Denver.