...Depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Katrina over the central Bahamas... ...Hurricane Watch and Tropical Storm Warning issued for Florida...
at 11 am EDT...1500z...a Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch have been issued for the Southeast Florida coast from Vero Beach southward to Florida City. This replaces the tropical storm watch. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area...generally within 36 hours.
A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the central and northwest Bahamas. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.
A tropical storm watch remains in effect for the middle and upper Florida Keys from west of the Seven Mile Bridge northward to south of Florida City. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area...generally within 36 hours.
A watch or warning may be required for Lake Okeechobee later today. A Hurricane Warning may be required for portions of the northwest Bahamas later today.
For storm information specific to your area...including possible inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued by your local weather office.
At 11 am EDT...1500z...the center of Tropical Storm Katrina was located near latitude 24.7 north... longitude 76.7 west or about 50 miles... 80 km... east-southeast of Nassau and about 230 miles... 375 km...east-southeast of southeast coast of Florida.
Katrina is moving toward the north-northwest near 8 mph ...13 km/hr. A gradual turn toward the northwest at a slightly slower forward speed is expected to occur later today. This motion should bring the center through the central and northwest Bahamas later today and tonight.
Earlier reports from an Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft indicated maximum sustained winds had increased to near 40 mph... 65 km/hr...with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles ...110 km...mainly east of the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1006 mb...29.71 inches.
Due to its slow forward speed...Katrina is expected to produce a significant heavy rainfall event over the central and northwest Bahamas...and South Florida... with total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches and isolated maximum amounts of 15 to 20 inches possible.
Storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels... along with large and dangerous battering waves... can be expected near the center in areas of onshore winds in the Bahamas.
Repeating the 11 am EDT position...24.7 N... 76.7 W. Movement toward...north-northwest near 8 mph. Maximum sustained winds... 40 mph. Minimum central pressure...1006 mb.
An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 2 PM EDT followed by the next complete advisory at 5 PM EDT.
Forecaster Stewart
I keep hoping for a good Northeast hurricane to hit the east coast.
I had a ball wading through the Brandywine during Hurricane FLoyd.
Just what they need.
WFOR's noon news will be streamed (via WMP) at http://dayport.wm.llnwd.net/dayport_0025_live.
Jim Cantore is on Miami Beach (where else!), and keeps emphasizing that storms in that area of the Bahamas at this time of year have a history of getting really strong, really fast.
The point that the local forecasters here (Glenn Burns at WSB-TV, Kirk Mellish at WSB Radio and Flip Spiceland & Paul Ossman at WXIA-TV) are pointing out is that current models have Katrina emerging into the Gulf and strengthening into a significant storm by midday Sunday. They are saying that the models have the storm hanging a right once it enters the Gulf and heading back toward the Mobile-Pensacola-Panama City zone...again.
And the Cape Verde season is just starting...