Tropical Storm Ernesto Forms, Heads for Gulf

With the PGA Championship coming to Kiawah next week, all eyes will be on Tropical Storm Ernesto, which formed Thursday.

Ernesto is forecasted to remain on its path toward the Gulf of Mexico, but at least one "spaghetti model" by Weather Underground shows it could hook north once in the gulf, and bringing wet weather later next week as the golf heats up in Charleston. 

Ernesto first formed Thursday afternoon, but forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said the storm had already weakened by 5 a.m. Friday. The storm has been called disorganized with few bursts of connectivity.

Despite the weakening, forecast models still show the storm becoming a hurricane by Sunday.

The Hurricane Center reports Ernesto is being steered westward by the strong subtropical ridge to its north. It is expected to continue on this path for the next two-three days, where it could begin a west-northward path.

The Weather Channel reports that once Earnesto hits the gulf, there could be more favorable conditions for the storm.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for:

• Dominica
• St. Lucia
• Martinique
• Guadeloupe

A tropical storm watch is in effect for Grenada.

A tropical storm warning means conditions are expected somewhere in the area. A tropical storm watch means the storm conditions are possible within the watch area.