US News
Ernesto makes landfall again, threatens flooding
By DPA
Sep 1, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Washington - Tropical Storm Ernesto made landfall around midnight Thursday near Cape Fear, North Carolina, with much of the US Atlantic Coast bracing for heavy rains on Friday and Saturday.

North Carolina and Virginia were under flood warnings as Ernesto began dumping moisture that could reach 12 to 25 centimetres across the Mid-Atlantic region. Rain in some spots could exceed 35 centimetres, the US National Hurricane Centre warned late Thursday.

Forecasters warned of flash floods, mudslides and possible tornadoes spawned by Ernesto.

The first big storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Ernest formed last week in the Caribbean Sea. The storm thrashed Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba, briefly reaching hurricane force before weakening prior to hitting southern Florida.

Ernesto crossed back over the open Atlantic before again reaching the US mainland overnight.

Wilmington, North Carolina was predicted to receive the highest rainfall totals Friday. The storm could reach New York over the weekend.

Ernesto was moving north at about 30 kilometres per hour but expected to gradually slow its progress, which could increase rainfall totals.

Maximum sustained winds were near 110 kilometres per hour but expected to weaken quickly over land.

Along the coast, storm surges could reach 1.5 metres above normal tides.