Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.

Tropical Storm Ernesto Becomes Season's First Hurricane
-------------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&ctl=13AD7CF:A6F02AD83191E16065B5C20F9C3AF5D79574F7DCC14957C0 US National
Hurricane Center says Ernesto's winds increased to 120
kilometers-per-hour early Sunday





Tropical Storm Ernesto, Saturday, 26 August 2006

Tropical Storm Ernesto has been upgraded to a hurricane - the first of
the 2006 Atlantic storm season.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Ernesto's winds increased to
120 kilometers-per-hour early Sunday. 

It is expected to intensify throughout the day as it moves on a
northwest course over the Caribbean toward Jamaica and Haiti.  The
storm's center is due to pass very near the southwestern tip of Haiti
this Sunday afternoon.

Forecasters warn heavy rains in Haiti and the Dominican Republic could
cause dangerous flash flooding and landslides.  Heavy downpours also
are forecast for Jamaica and eastern Cuba.

Satellite images show Ernesto's predicted path to go between Jamaica
and Haiti, then move over Cuba and part of the Cayman Islands before
continuing toward the Gulf of Mexico. 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

 


.