| http://www.weather.an/cyclones/index.asp Date: August 29, 2010 Time: 11:00 P.M. Earl is Reaching SSS Islands; Strike Warning Remains in Effect STORM IDENTIFICATION: Hurricane Earl INTENSITY CATEGORY: Category Two Hurricane CENTER LOCATION: Within 25 miles of 17.9N 61.1W or 130 miles east of St. Maarten. LOCATION TIME: 11 P.M. PRESENT MOVEMENT: west-northwest at 15 mph. MAX WINDS NEAR CENTER: 100 mph with gusts to 120 mph. EFFECT ON LOCAL CONDITIONS: Hurricane Earl has strengthened during the past few hours and is now a Category Two (2) system. Its center is still forecast to pass very close (about 40 miles to the north) or partially over St. Maarten on Monday morning. Hurricane force winds will extend to about 20 miles and tropical storm force winds will extend as much as 100 miles south of the center. Earl is forecast to continue to strengthen and could become a Category Three( 3) system as it reaches the SSS Islands. The surface winds will gradually continue to increase to tropical storm force later tonight with gusts to hurricane force and these winds will last through Monday evening. Sustained hurricane force winds are expected during mainly Monday morning. The wind direction will shift gradually overnight from north through west to south by Monday evening. Because of this expected development, a Hurricane Warning for the SSS Islands remains in effect. Since tropical storm force winds are now expected within three hours, a Strike Warning will be in effect until further notice. Sea conditions are expected to continue to deteriorate gradually during the overnight hours of Monday and will likely be rough to very rough through Monday evening. Storm surge will raise water levels 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels along the coast and that may cause significant coastal flooding. Owners of small craft are advised not to go out of port and to moor their vessels securely. The first rain bands of Earl are already over the SSS Islands. Thundershower activity will gradually increase during the overnight hours. Heavy thundershowers with rainfall amounts in excess of 100 mm (four inches) will likely cause street flooding in several sections of the SSS Islands through Monday afternoon. WATCHES/WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Hurricane Warning, a Strike Warning and a Small Craft Warning will be in effect until further notice. HURRICANE WARNING: A warning that one or both of the following dangerous effects of a hurricane are expected in a specific area in 36 hours or less: (a) average winds 74 mph or higher; (b) dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves. STRIKE WARNING: Tropical storm or hurricane conditions are expected within the next six to nine hours. Local authorities and residents of the SSS Islands are advised to continue monitoring the further progress of this weather system. All necessary measures to safeguard life and property should be rushed to completion before tonight. CENTER FORECAST POSITION: DATE/TIME POSITION INTENSITY LOCATION Monday, August 30, 8 A.M. 18.5N 62.7W Strong Category 2 40 miles northeast of St. Maarten. NEXT ADVISORY: Monday, August 30, 8:00 A.M. END |