Enhanced infrared satellite imagery taken Saturday morning shows Tropical Storm Ernesto moving westward. (NOAA)
Tropical Storm Ernesto, despite a ragged appearance, continues to move westward through the eastern Caribbean at a fairly fast pace.
After bringing heavy showers and thunderstorms to the Lesser Antilles Friday, the storm has shifted east of the Islands.
The storm has maintained some intensity through the overnight hours as the shear dropped off a bit.
According to Meteorologist Andy Mussoline, "Strong wind shear, an inhibitor of tropical development, will limit the potential for rapid strengthening over the next day or so. However, the wind shear is expected to weaken throughout the course of the weekend, where the opportunity for further strengthening is possible."
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Tropical Storm Ernesto will travel on a nearly due west path through this weekend, taking it through the Caribbean Sea.
Ernesto is expected to strengthen a bit while bringing some heavier rain bands this weekend across the northern Caribbean Islands.
By the first part of next week, the system could have direct impacts anywhere in the vicinity from Honduras to Belize to the western tip of Cuba.
Looking at impacts to the United States, the system, potentially a tropical storm or greater by then, could move into southern parts of the Gulf of Mexico during the latter part of next week.
Meanwhile, two potent tropical systems (Saola and Damrey) were aiming for China before the end of the week.
Stay tuned to the AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center for more updates.
Expert Videos on the Tropical Storm Ernesto
Severe thunderstorms with the risk of a few tornadoes will advance eastward across the northern Plains and Upper Midwest into Friday.
A dangerous outbreak of severe storms will strike the northern High Plains and Canadian Prairies on Wednesday.
Join us on Thursday for AccuWeather LIVE as we will discuss the debate of climate change and hurricane frequency and the top five things you need to know about summer weather.
A hot and humid weekend is shaping up for Chicagoland just in time for the official start of summer, while severe thunderstorms fire nearby to the north.
Tropical Storm Barry formed over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico and may hit the Mexico state of Veracruz Thursday.
A tornado touched down at Denver International Airport as a severe weather system moved through the area.
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | N/A | |
| Low | N/A | |
| Precip | N/A |
Philadelphia, PA (1994)
Strong thunderstorm winds blew off a large section
of a hanger roof and also damaged two aircraft.
Southeast China (1932)
Hailstorm in Hunan Province killed 20 people
and injured thousands of others.
Custer Creek, MT (1938)
Cloudburst; 48 killed in a train wreck.
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