Tropical storm Ernesto spares T&T; storm warnings in Eastern Caribbean

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Forecasters in Miami reported Thursday that Tropical Storm Ernesto has formed in the Atlantic Ocean near the Windward Islands and could strengthen into a hurricane as it races westward across the Caribbean Sea.

Trinidad & Tobago is not in the path of the storm. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm is expected to hit the southern Windward Islands and cross into the Caribbean early on Friday. The following islands have issued storm warnings:

• Barbados
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Dominica
• St. Lucia
• Martinique
• Guadeloupe

Ernesto, which is moving rapidly west at 22 mph, is expected to turn to the northwest early next week and strengthen into a hurricane southeast of Jamaica. Currently, its top winds re 50 miles per hour. Several islands are being drenched with up to five inches in isolated areas.