Date added: Thursday August 31, 2006: 1130pm EST

Ernesto makes landfall

70+ MPH winds and rain hit coast

A long night ahead in the Carolinas

By HurricaneNow.com
Correspondent Rob Hess

Not quite a hurricane, but a lot of wind and rain

Ernesto came ashore near Long Beach, North Carolina Thursday night as a strong storm, packing 70 MPH sustained winds, but not quite a hurricane. The story tonight is the threat of tornadoes and flooding in the region.

Storm will linger inland

Beyond the story of 70 MPH winds is how much rain and flooding conditions Ernesto will dump in a region that stretches into Pennsylvania over the next couple of days.

Beyond Ernesto

Another tropical wave is stirring near the Cape Verde Islands, and while current models don't suggest a threat to the US east coast or nearby islands, it's a reminder that we are, right now, at the midpoint of the 2006 hurricane season. Stay tuned to HurricaneNow.com for continuing coverage. We will be reporting live from the scene of upcoming major landfalling storms, and we hope you will be with us.