Ernesto nearing hurricane strength, again
POSTED: 4:51 p.m. EDT, August 31, 2006
Story Highlights• NEW: 70 mph sustained winds just below hurricane strength
• Hurricane watch issued for North and South Carolina
• South Carolina landfall expected late Thursday or early Friday
• Virginia governor declares state of emergency
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MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Tropical Storm Ernesto neared hurricane status Thursday as it barreled toward the coast of the Carolinas, and forecasters said hurricane conditions could affect the shoreline within the next 12 hours.
The National Hurricane Center said at 2 p.m. that a reconnaissance plane clocked Ernesto's winds at 70 mph, with higher gusts, just shy of the 74 mph hurricane threshold.
"Ernesto could strengthen a little more and reach the coast as a hurricane," the advisory said.
At 2 p.m. Ernesto was about 180 miles (285 kilometers) south-southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina, and about 90 miles (145 kilometers) southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. (Watch how Ernesto drenched Charleston before it even arrived -- 1:01)
The storm was moving north-northeast at 17 mph, according to the hurricane center.
"On this track, the center of Ernesto will be near the coast of the Carolinas later today," the center said in its 2 p.m. advisory. "Isolated tornadoes are possible over eastern North Carolina late this afternoon and tonight."
Hurricane watches were in effect for a swath of coastline running from the South Santee River -- between Charleston and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina -- and Cape Lookout, North Carolina, 20 miles east of Beaufort.
Ernesto also threatened to cause coastal and flash flooding, center forecasters said. (Watch a hurricane guru explain how Ernesto will swamp the Carolinas -- 2:11)
"Regardless of whether this thing gets to be a hurricane [again] or not, this is going to be a flood maker," CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said.
"It's already grabbed enough moisture that when it gets up into North Carolina, South Carolina and, eventually, into Virginia it will make flooding. There will be areas there that will pick up 6 to 10 inches of rain."
Coastal storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels is possible along the coasts of North and South Carolina.
Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are possible from coastal South Carolina northward into the mid-Atlantic region, with maximum amounts of 12 inches possible in some areas, the hurricane center said.
These amounts could cause life-threatening flash floods.
North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley warned residents there to "get prepared."
Most of the rain from Ernesto is likely to fall between Winston-Salem to the west and the Greenville-Wilson area to the east, Easley said.
"If you live in low-lying areas, flood-prone areas, please pay attention to the weather forecasts and evacuation orders," the governor advised during a news conference.
"The most important thing I can tell you is do not drive in flooded waters after the storm; take time for water to settle," he said. "You don't know how deep it is, and once you get into flooded water you can be swept away fairly rapidly."
Easley said he had activated 150 National Guard troops, half in the east and half in the western part of the state. With them are two Black Hawk helicopters for aerial rescues and 19 vehicles for each unit.
Shelters also were lined up to deal with evacuees.
"We know we're going to get a lot of rain; it's going to be a water event," the governor said. "It's important that people pay attention. Don't get complacent."
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford announced nearly 250 National Guardsmen were being mobilized to help direct traffic if evacuations were ordered and said contractors working on highway projects along evacuation routes would temporarily shut down operations, according to The Associated Press.
Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine declared a state of emergency as Ernesto approached.
A tropical storm warning was lifted for Florida and most of Georgia, but the warning was extended to the north. The new warning covers the coast from the Savannah River north to Currituck Beach Light, at the northern end of North Carolina's Outer Banks. (Watch Ernesto whip trees along Miami's Biscayne Bay -- 1:16)
In Mexico officials told Reuters at least 10,000 people will be evacuated from their homes as Category 3 Hurricane John headed for the resort beaches of the Baja California peninsula.
Jose Gajon, head of civil protection for the state of Baja California Sur, said locals living in low-lying areas around the Los Cabos beach resort will be taken to shelters, by force if necessary, before the storm pummels the region on Friday, Reuters reported.(Full story)
Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
