Is Ernesto on the Way?

The fifth tropical depression of the season is gathering strength and is expected to become Hurricane Ernesto and wander into the Caribbean in the next few days:

The fifth tropical depression of the 2006 hurricane season has formed in the eastern Caribbean Sea this afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Depression Five is located about 150 miles southwest of Martinique and is packing winds of 35 mph. The storm is moving toward the west at 22 mph.

The storm is expected to become Tropical Storm Ernesto over the next day or so, and to pose a threat to Jamaica over the weekend.

The current track map takes it right into the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. Where it goes from there, it's too early to tell.

UPDATE: It looks like Ernesto is headed for eastern Florida.