Jared you probably will get more of this then me , so be careful.
A weakened Ernesto is expected to bring drenching rain to parts of Central Florida Wednesday and possibly the threat of tornadoes during the afternoon hours, according to Local 6 meteorologist Larry Mowry.
"The biggest threat from Ernesto will be the heavy rain," Mowry said. "(There will be) 3 to 5 inches of rain and winds around 20 to 30 mph. The worst weather will come this afternoon."
The tornado threat will be the highest along the Central Florida coast, forecasters said.
"The latest track on Ernesto has not changed a whole lot," Mowry said. "The strength is still the same. The track takes it right over east Central Florida this evening."
Ernesto Surprises
Tropical Storm Ernesto surprised forecasters by failing to strengthen Tuesday before reaching the southern tip of the state, where it delivered drenching rain but none of the heavy winds that had been feared.
Accidents on rain-slickened expressways killed at least two people Tuesday. A Miami woman died after the car in which she was riding hydroplaned and struck a palm tree, and a motorcyclist was killed near Boca Raton after losing control and being struck by two other vehicles.
The state had been ready to respond with 500 National Guard members and another 500 state law enforcement officers.
"This does not look like a catastrophic event, but we always want to be ready," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in Tallahassee. He attended Katrina anniversary events earlier in the day in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Forecasters said Ernesto could weaken to a tropical depression later Wednesday, but that rainbands with strong, gusty winds would continue along Florida's east coast throughout the day.
Ernesto was expected to turn to the north and increase in speed later Wednesday as it moves up the middle of Florida and exits on the northeast coast by early Thursday.
"How much strengthening occurs after Ernesto emerges into the Atlantic depends on how much of a cyclone is left," said senior hurricane specialist James Franklin.
The storm prompted NASA to scrub its planned launch of the space shuttle Atlantis. The shuttle was initially moved toward an assembling building for protection, but NASA reversed course later when forecasters said winds would not be as strong as initially expected.
"I think it was a good test for a lot of people, and not just the good folks in South Florida," Mayfield said. "I saw on television, everyone getting their gas and water and goods and supplies. But we had briefings with FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security, the White House, Northcom, Southcom ... and there was a lot of behind-the-scenes action that people will never know about."
A tropical storm warning remained in effect from Bonita Beach, on Florida's west coast, around the peninsula and Keys and up the entire eastern length of Florida to Altamaha Sound, Ga., about halfway up that state's coast. A hurricane watch was in effect for the coastlines in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
At 5 a.m. EDT, the center of the storm was about 45 miles west-southwest of Miami and moving north-northwest near 8 mph. Ernesto still had top sustained winds of 45 mph.
Some embraced the weather as an opportunity. A squall preceding the storm brought out kite-surfers on Miami Beach until the wind became too strong.
In the laid-back Florida Keys, many residents took the storm in stride. At the Hurricane Grille in Marathon, wall-mounted televisions showed Ernesto approaching the Keys as Dean Carrigan enjoyed beer and a game of darts. "It's definitely the Keys lifestyle that we're out here drinking and having a good time," Carrigan said. "This doesn't seem like anything. It looks like more of a thunderstorm."
Even as heavy rain fell, Carol Allor ventured out to buy a roast to cook at home. "It's not even a hurricane. We put our shutters up and everything
