Hurricane Ernesto forms near the Leeward Islands, currently no threat to Florida
moving towards the northwest at about 16 mp
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The latest update from the National Hurricane Center shows that Ernesto has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane.
Ernesto is moving northwest at about 25 km/h. It is expected to turn to the north-northwest and north later in the day and night, with the northward motion continuing at a slower speed through Saturday.
The center of Ernesto will move further away from Puerto Rico today, move across the western Atlantic over the next few days, and approach Bermuda on Friday and Saturday.
Data from the Air Force Reserve and NOAA’s Hurricane Hunter aircraft show that maximum sustained winds have increased to nearly 75 mph with stronger gusts, and further strengthening is expected over the next few days.
Hurricane-force winds extend up to 35 miles outward from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend up to 230 miles outward.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for
* British Virgin Islands
* US Virgin Islands
* Puerto Rico
* Vieques and Culebra
