Sprawling Ernesto has been bombing out today, now down to 983mb. With this, the winds have finally caught up, and are presently running as high as roughly 80MPH sustained, with even stronger gusts.

With this increase in intensity, Ernesto has pulled a touch more to the north, yet again. This has prompted NHC to update watches and warnings as follows:

THE HURRICANE WARNING NOW INCLUDES COZUMEL...AND THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAS BEEN EXTENDED NORTHWARD TO CABO CATOCHE ON THE NORTHEAST TIP OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA.

Ernesto is a dangerously larger sized Category 1 hurricane, and thus may produce some potentially significant storm surge along the coast, most likely from northern Belize up through the Yucatan and nearby islands.

Inland, very heavy rainfall could result in dangerous flash flooding, and while Ernesto's strongest winds are likely to occur offshore and right along the coast, at least gusts to hurricane force may also be experienced well inland.

It is very possible, if not probable, that Ernesto strengthens still more prior to making landfall along the Yucatan/Belize coastlines.