Hurricane Ernesto threatens Gulf Coast

Updated: 19:55, Sunday, 27 August 2006

Meteorologists say that a tropical storm in the Caribbean has now reached hurricane force.

1 of 1Hurricane in Gulf Coast - Ernesto comes a year after the damage caused by Katrina
Hurricane in Gulf Coast - Ernesto comes a year after the damage caused by Katrina

Meteorologists say that a tropical storm in the Caribbean has now reached hurricane force.

Tropical storm Ernesto is now being described as a Category 1 hurricane and is expected to reach Cuba some time tomorrow.

Ernesto threatens deforested Haiti with floods and mudslides, with 115 miles per hour (185 km per hour) winds in the Gulf, home to a quarter of US oil and gas production.

Its most likely path would take it ashore on Florida's west coast near Tampa on Thursday.

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