Storm Watch No. 5.4, 2006:Ernesto Brings The Rain

Ernesto came ashore just below hurricane strength. But he is packing a wet punch inland.

Ernesto weakened to a tropical depression Friday, but the storm still packed enough punch to dump more than half a foot of rain, knock out power to more than 300,000 customers and force hundreds of people from their homes.

And it was far from finished. On the eve of the Labor Day weekend, the storm prompted flash flood watches for wide sections of Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and central New York.

"Nobody is relaxing until long after the storm has passed," Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said.

You have to love the "half a foot of rain" description. That sounds so much better than "six inches." And then there's this note, as we are now into September with only one hurricane (Ernesto reached Category 1 strength days ago, but not for long.):

Also Friday, a team of hurricane forecasters in Colorado lowered their expectations for the 2006 Atlantic season, predicting only five hurricanes instead of the seven previously forecast.

Well, sure ... c'mon you can't change your prediction with two months gone. It's like waiting until the third quarter and the Cowboys are leading the Eagles 31-10 and saying, "I know I said the Eagles might win, but I'm going with the Cowboys now."

UPDATE: We stick to Atlantic hurricanes here, but if you're in the western and southwestern United States, you might be interested in two Pacific storms: Hurricane John and Tropical Storm Kristy.