Ernesto Keeps On Churning

Weather experts said they expect Tropical Storm Ernesto to strengthen as it crosses the South Atlantic towards Florida, threatening homes still not repaired from Hurricane Wilma last year.

The National Weather Service issued tropical storm warnings and a hurricane watch for the east coast of Florida from New Smyrna Beach south to the Florida keys, and along the west coast from Bonita Beach south.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect along the east coast from New Smyrna Beach north to Altamaha, Ga. Weather Service added that a tropical storm watch and hurricane warning will probably be issued for all of the Georgia coast and into South Carolina.

Tropical storm warnings and a hurricane watch have also been issued for the Bahamas and surrounding areas.

Tornado warnings for Southern Florida were also issued by the Weather Service.

Steve Smith, vice president of Carvill ReAdvisory, a division of London-based reinsurance broker Carvill, and an atmospheric physicist, said in a report that the models generally agree that Ernesto will hit the Southern tip of Florida before moving northward. He said it was unlikely the storm would move into the Gulf of Mexico.

After passing Florida, there is a possibility the storm could move back into warm waters in the Atlantic and strengthen again before running into South Carolina.

Ernesto could strike Florida either as a strong tropical storm or as a weak hurricane. Either way, Smith pointed out, the industry could take a hit as the storm passes through populated parts of Dade and Broward counties where the damaged roofs of many homes are still covered by blue tarps from last year's Hurricane Wilma.

He added that should Ernesto strengthen after passing Florida, it could threaten properties in the Carolinas, and impact the insurance industry with losses there.