As of 2pm EDT, the National Hurricane Center has upgraded Ernesto to a Category 1 hurricane after Air Force hurricane hunters measured maximum sustained winds of 80 mph inside the storm. Not only has Ernesto strengthened around 15 mph since the last advisory around, but the storm as also taken on a much more organized shape, as seen in this image from the GOES-13 satellite taken on August 7, 2012 at 18:15z. Hurricane warnings have been extended to include Cozumel as the storm moves west-northwest at 14 mph. Some intensification is expected over the next 12 hours, possibly up to 90 mph maximum sustained winds.
NOAA
2012-08-07
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