State meteorologist Ben Nelson says residents shouldn’t dwell on the storm’s projected track because weaker systems are more difficult to forecast.

“Don’t focus on that skinny black line, the track, again this is a weak tropical storm at the moment. Those are often much more difficult to forecast than some of the bigger storms we’ve had over the past couple of years – and it’s very important for folks not to get fixated on that skinny black line.”

Nelson says heavy rainfall will be the biggest threat – as Ernesto moves onshore sometime this afternoon. He says strong currents and tornadoes are also possible in the coming days throughout South Florida.