For many Americans, Jamaica is one of those vacation spots that you dream about.  A tiny island in the tropics, it is a favourite holiday destination.

Apparently Tropical Storm Ernesto agrees.

The season’s 5^th named storm made its entrance into the Caribbean Sea by hitting the Windward Islands with heavy rain and 100 km/h winds.  Ernesto continues its slow westward track and is expected to pass very close to Jamaica, prompting officials there to issue Tropical Storm Warnings.  The storm could begin to affect the tiny Caribbean island as early as 11am Sunday (local time).

Where Ernesto goes after that is a real mystery.

8 different computer models have come up with 6 different solutions to that question.  A couple want to take Ernesto toward New Orleans, Louisiana.  New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina back in 2005.

The others take the storm across the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico or across parts of Central America.

The one thing that everyone can agree on is that Ernesto will continue to strengthen.  Ernesto has plenty of warm water to use as fuel and weak upper level winds to allow him to continue to grow.  Ernesto is expected to become a hurricane in the next 48 hours.

Homepage image/ NOAA

By WeatherWatch Analyst Howard Joseph