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 LES CAYES, Haiti (AP) - Ernesto became the first hurricane of the Atlantic season Sunday then weakened to a tropical storm as it lashed Haiti's southern coast with heavy rain and flooded homes in the impoverished country.
But the storm was projected to regain strength as it steamed toward Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico and forecasters said it could again reach hurricane force before striking Cuba on Monday morning.
Cuba ramped up emergency preparations and forecasters said the storm would be close to the island's southeastern coast Monday morning, with a brief return to hurricane force possible.
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