Hurricane Ernesto has spared Belize - the category one storm is expected to make landfall at Mahahual on the Southeastern Coast of Mexico - about 43 miles northeast of Chetumal in the next few hours with winds of 85 miles per hour.
Only minimal impacts are expected in northern Belize as the strongest winds are concentrated north of the eye - which will make landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The strongest effects are currently being felt in San Pedro where that town is presently reporting a storm surge of two feet presently
So we're not at the all clear yet; not nearly. At 6:00 pm, the storm was moving west north west at 18 miles per hour and is currently 65 miles east of Chetumal with hurricane force winds extending 45miles out.
According to our calculations it is 80 miles northeast of San Pedro - so they should be experiencing Tropical Storm Force winds. It is 100 miles northeast of Belize.
Our news team was in Corozal today - and we'll have the story on what has been happening there a little later on.
But since noon today - most of the country has been at a standstill - after an extraordinary declaration by NEMO.
The advisory sent at 8:30 am said, quote, "Business Companies and stores should be closed down at 1:00 p.m. today."
It did not specify what part of the country it applied to, the memo just gave the order that everything should close down - so from Corozal to Toledo - the country went into a kind of Hurricane Holiday.
Sure, they needed the extra time in Corozal, but in Toledo? Probably not at all.
But that's how it been, most of the country like Albert Street in Belize City has been shuttered down all afternoon.
Stay tuned for more on Hurricane Ernesto coming up later in the news.
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