MIAMI, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Hurricane-weary Florida Monday braced for what could be its first major storm of the year as Tropical Storm Ernesto moved over Cuba.
At 11 p.m., the storm was over eastern Cuba about 20 miles north of Camaguey and 325 miles southeast of Key West, Fla., and moving west-northwest at almost 12 mph. The National Hurricane Center predicted the storm would be over the Florida Straits early Tuesday and close to the Keys by Tuesday evening.
A hurricane watch and tropical storm warning remained in effect for all of the Florida Keys, for the east coast from Vero Beach south, for the west coast from Bonita Beach south and for the northwestern Bahamas. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours.
Ernesto briefly became a hurricane Sunday before losing strength over Haiti where heavy rain reportedly caused at least one death. But forecasters warned it could easily become much stronger once it leaves Cuba.
The storm brought inches of rain to Cuba with 5 to 10 inches predicted for the Florida Keys. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush declared a state of emergency Sunday, and schools in the Keys were shuttered.
Ernesto's predicted track would now bring it ashore near Miami late Tuesday or early Wednesday, moving up Florida and then out to sea again before hitting the coast of South Carolina late Wednesday.
