The latest projected path of Tropical Storm Ernesto shows the storm continuing a path into the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 1 hurricane or possibly stronger, according to Local 6 meteorologist Tom Sorrells.

"It is a big deal because the unpredictability on day four and five of this storm puts it in the Gulf of Mexico as at least a Category 1 hurricane," Sorrells said.

Tropical Storm Ernesto formed Friday over the Caribbean as it moved toward Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and could develop into the first hurricane of the 2006 Atlantic season, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

"At this early stage, the message we want to send to people is not to panic but to watch it," said Jamie Rhome, a specialist at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Jamaica, which stood straight in the storm's path, issued a tropical storm watch, and Haiti issued a tropical storm watch for its southern coast. The storm was on a course that would bring it over Jamaica on Sunday afternoon.

The Cayman Islands government urged residents to pay close attention to the storm's track.

"The essential message to the public is to continue to monitor the system carefully, listen to local media," said Education Minister Alden McLaughlin.

Fears that the system could damage offshore energy facilities in the Gulf of Mexico sent oil and natural-gas prices higher. Oil producers operating in the Gulf said they were prepared to evacuate nonessential personnel if needed.

At 5 p.m. EDT Friday, Ernesto had maximum sustained winds near 40 mph. The fifth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season was centered 300 miles south-southwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and 660 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.

It spun off thunderstorms over Trinidad, Dominica and other islands, but the rains tapered off there early Friday. Wind gusts Thursday night damaged six fishing boats at a marina on the southern coast of Barbados. No injuries were reported.

The storm was moving west-northwest at nearly 16 mph. Its outer fringes were expected to bring rain to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti over the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Debby was expected to stay over the open Atlantic, posing only a threat to ships. At 5 p.m. EDT, the center of the storm was about 1,470 miles west-northwest of the Cape Verde Islands.