Storm Ernesto takes aim on coastal Carolinas

Miami, Aug 31: Ernesto took aim at the Carolina coast today threatening heavy rains and huge waves, as the storm's winds gathered momentum after leaving Florida and swirling out over the Atlantic Ocean.

The US National Hurricane Center said Ernesto, the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season's fifth storm, gradually turned north-northeast and headed out over water and toward the South Carolina coast. It dumped heavy rains over northeastern Florida.

Yesterday, its winds flagging as it limped northward over the Florida Peninsula, Ernesto was stripped of tropical-storm status by the hurricane center and downgraded to a tropical depression.

But by 2 am Ernesto's sustained winds had increased to 40 miles per hour (65 kph), with higher gusts, meteorologists said, adding that its winds were expected to strengthen during the next 24 hours.

The storm was unlikely to regain the 119 kph winds needed for hurricane status, they said.

The path of the storm, its center moving at 25 kph, would likely take it ashore near the North Carolina-South Carolina border by tonight.

A tropical storm warning was in effect from Cocoa Beach, Florida, to Cape Lookout, North Carolina.

North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley activated 150 National Guard soldiers and said two rescue helicopters were standing by in case of flooding. Neighboring South Carolina activated 240 National Guard troops on Tuesday.

''One of the greatest dangers will be flooded roads,'' Easley said. ''Do not drive in flood waters. Most deaths from flooding occur in automobiles.''

FLORIDA CLEANUP

There appeared to be little cleanup needed in Florida.

Tourists were yesterday allowed to return to the Florida Keys and state parks were reopened. Schools across the region were set to reopen today.

It was a far cry from encounters with hurricanes Wilma and Katrina last year. Wilma knocked out power to more than 90 per cent of south Florida residents in October and caused 12 billion dollars in damage.

Katrina caused more than 0 million in insured losses in Florida before slamming into the Gulf coast on August 29, where it killed about 1,500 people, swamped New Orleans and caused billion in damage.

Ernesto's weakened state as it hit Florida was a puzzle to forecasters, who had predicted it could become a hurricane over the warm waters of the Florida Straits after bashing Cuba.

Before hitting Cuba and Florida, Ernesto lashed Haiti, where officials blamed it for two deaths.

REUTERS