Tropical Storm Ernesto weakens slightly

CMC – A weakened Tropical Storm Ernesto is expected to move across portions of the Windward Islands on Friday, as several Caribbean countries discontinued a tropical storm warning.

Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines have discontinued the tropical storm warnings, but it remains in effect for Dominica, St. Lucia and the French islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe.

Regional airline, LIAT, has already announced the cancellation of several flights and says there could be further disruptions in the airline’s schedule.

Ernesto is moving towards the west near 24 miles per hour and this motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days with a gradual decrease in forward speed.

The National Hurricane center said Ernesto will move very near St. Lucia and St. Vincent in the next 48 hours and then move into the Eastern Caribbean Sea later Friday.

It said that the maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 45 mph and some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.

The St. Vincent authorities have advised that the E. T. Joshua International Airport will be re-opened at 4 p.m. today.

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