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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Ernesto Set to Become Possible First Hurricane |
| 2006-08-26 |
| Gathering strength over the central Caribbean, Tropical Storm Ernesto headed toward Jamaica on Saturday and threatened to enter the Gulf of Mexico within days as the first hurricane of the 2006 Atlantic season. Ernesto, packing 50 mph winds, was projected to reach hurricane strength by Tuesday but it was too soon to predict whether it would hit the United States, said Michael Brennan, a meteorologist with the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. “People should pay attention, especially people on the Gulf Coast,” Brennan said. “It’s a good time for people to update their hurricane plans.” And maybe fill 'er up, since you know what's going to happen to the price of gas if it goes anywhere near the oil platforms and refineries in the Gulf... Ernesto was on a course that would bring it over Jamaica by Sunday afternoon, dumping 4 to 8 inches of rain on the island with up to a foot possible in some areas, the hurricane center said. Fisherman were warned to return to shore — with tides up to 3 feet higher than normal expected. Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller met with disaster agencies to prepare. Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, which both stood in the storm’s path, issued hurricane watches, meaning severe conditions including winds of at least 74 mph were possible over the next 48 hours. Tropical storm warnings also were in effect for Jamaica and Haiti’s southern coast. In Haiti, emergency officials went on local radio to warn people living in flimsy shantytowns on the southern coast to seek shelter in schools and churches. The impoverished Caribbean nation is 90 percent deforested, increasing vulnerability to deadly flooding and mudslides. Fears that the storm could damage offshore energy facilities in the Gulf of Mexico had oil and natural-gas prices higher. Oil producers operating in the Gulf said they were prepared to evacuate nonessential personnel if needed. Max Mayfield, the National Hurricane Center director, said it was too early to say whether the storm would hit the Gulf Coast, which is still recovering from last year’s Hurricane Katrina. “We’ve got some time. We don’t want people to get too excited about this, but they certainly need to be watching it,” Mayfield told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. |
| Posted by:Swamp Blondie |
| #1 The Junkman has a good summary of Hurricanes and CO2/Global Warming. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2006-08-26 22:32 |