Ernesto over Cuba
Tropical Storm Ernesto the first storm to have reached hurricane status in the 2006 season has moved inland over Cuba tonight. The storm has been erratic and difficult to forecast. Early forecasts had the storm as a major hurricane affecting the Gulf Coast region. It now appears the storm may affect Florida as a tropical storm before moving up into the Carolina and Mid-Atlantic states. The storm reached hurricane status for a time late Saturday into Sunday morning. It will affect the US on the anniversary of Katrina. I am hoping and praying it stays away from Hatteras Island. I have vacationed there over the last 15 years and hope Avon and the surrounding villages are spared. It will be close call according to the computer models.

As of 8pm a Hurricane Watch and Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Florida east and southwest coasts. All interests in the southeast US should monitor the progress of the storm. The models are mixed with the storm affecting areas from Cuba to Maine a possibility. Updates can be found at hurricanecity.com.

I will keep a close eye on the system over the upcoming hours. Another update will be posted early tomorrow morning.