Hurricane season 2012: Tropical Storm Ernesto approaching Honduras, expected to impact Yucatan

TAMPA - Tropical Storm Ernesto is expected to pass near Honduras later Monday and then take aim at the Yucatan Peninsula.

Hurricane watches and Tropical storm warnings are in effect for portions of the region.

At 11 a.m., Ernesto was about 190 miles east-northeast of the Nicaraguan/Honduran border.  The system, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, is moving west-northwest at 9 mph.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the entire east coast of Belize and a Hurricane Warning has been issued for portions of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Ernesto is not expected to have any impact on the Tampa Bay area.

In the distant eastern Atlantic, Tropical Storm Florence has weakened to a remnant low and will likely disperse over the next few days.