Tropical storm Ernesto forms over Caribbean, heads to Jamaica

Saturday, August 26, 2006 Jamaica and Haiti both issued tropical storm watches. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Tropical Storm Ernesto formed Friday over the Caribbean as it moved toward Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and could develop into the first hurricane of the 2006 Atlantic season, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Ernesto was projected to reach hurricane strength early next week and to enter the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday or Wednesday but it was too soon to predict whether it would hit the United States, said Robbie Berg, a forecaster with the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. "At this early stage, the message we want to send to people is not to panic but to watch it," said Jamie Rhome, another specialist at the hurricane center. Residents warned Jamaica, which stood straight in the storm's path, issued a tropical storm watch, and Haiti issued a tropical storm watch for its southern coast. The storm was on a course that would bring it over Jamaica on Sunday afternoon. The Cayman Islands government urged residents to pay close attention to the storm's track. "The essential message to the public is to continue to monitor the system carefully, listen to local media," said Education Minister Alden McLaughlin. Fears that the system could damage offshore energy facilities in the Gulf of Mexico sent oil and natural-gas prices higher. Oil producers operating in the Gulf said they were prepared to evacuate nonessential personnel if needed. Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.