Ernesto / John

Tropical Storm John is moving NW along the Mexican West Coast and tropical storm watches are in force along the Mexican coast from Lagunas de Chacahua to Lazaro Cardenas. These may need to be extended westwards. John is expected to reach upper category 2 status in 2-3 days' time with windspeeds of about 100 kts.

In relation to Tropical Storm Ernesto, tropical storm warnings are extended northward along the Florida East Coast to New Smyrna Beach. A tropical storm warning and hurricane watch are now in effect from New Smyrna Beach southward on the east coast including Lake Okeechobee, from Bonita Beach southward on the west coast and for all of the Florida Keys from Ocean Reef to the Dry Tortugas. A hurricane warning may be required for portions of South Florida and the Florida Keys later this morning. A tropical storm watch remains in effect from north of Bonita Beach to Englewood on the west coast.

Tropical storm warnings also apply for parts of the Bahamas and Cuba.

Ernesto will reach the Florida Keys this evening, although rainbands will cover the island chain during the afternoon. A second landfall will follow in the southern peninsula of Florida in 18 to 24 hours. Ernesto will reappear in the Atlantic off the northeastern coast of Florida before making a third landfall in the Carolinas. The system will then move north and become a major low pressure system over the Great Lakes.