Havana, Aug 3 (RHC) Tropical storm Ernesto passed over the island of Saint Lucia and it could become a hurricane on its way to the western Caribbean, weather specialists say.

The natural phenomenon is not expected to threaten any other island during this weekend, but it could get strength on Monday in waters southwest of Jamaica.

According to different tracking models, Ernesto could advance towards the Yucatan channel or near the Southern Gulf of Mexico next week, and it could affect Cancun or the Maya Rivera on Wednesday.

The tropical storm formed 475 kilometers east of the Lesser Antilles and moved fast westwards at 33 kilometers per hour.

On Friday, Ernesto had 85 kilometer-per-hour sustained winds with up to 102 kilometer strong gusts. The storm could turn into a hurricane if its gusts reach 119 kilometers per hour.

No damage was reported after the passage of the storm on Saint Lucia.

August and September usually register the most active stage of the hurricane season in the Atlantic ocean and the Caribbean Sea, which runs from June 1 to November 30. 

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