Ernesto expected to gain strength, skirt Jamaica

9:14 PM, Aug 4, 2012   |    comments
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KINGSTON, Jamaica - 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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