The Hunters are coming out with these quickly; the benefits of a small storm (too bad it doesn't look like the speed of the reports or the small size will last though)...
000 URNT12 KNHC 011723 VORTEX DATA MESSAGE AL062007 A. 01/17:07:10Z B. 12 deg 27 min N 064 deg 14 min W C. NA mb NA m D. 50 kt E. 142 deg 026 nm F. 181 deg 052 kt G. 142 deg 026 nm H. EXTRAP 999 mb I. 22 C/ 400 m J. 24 C/ 405 m K. 24 C/ NA L. NA M. NA N. 12345/1 O. 0.02 / 2 nm P. AF306 0406A FELIX OB 05 MAX FL WIND 61 KT NE QUAD 16:04:30 Z MAX FL WND OUTBOUND FROM CNTR 70KTS @ 17:14:00Z SLP EXTRAP FROM 1500 FT.
Statement as of 2:00 PM AST on September 01, 2007
...Felix nearing hurricane strength... At 2 PM AST...the tropical storm watch for the north coast of Venezuela has been discontinued. A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the islands of Aruba...Bonaire and Curacao. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Interests elsewhere in the eastern and central Caribbean Sea should closely monitor the progress of this system. For storm information specific to your area...including possible inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued by your local weather office. At 200 PM AST...1800z...the center of Tropical Storm Felix was located near latitude 12.5 north...longitude 64.5 west or about 420 miles...680 km...south-southeast of San Juan Puerto Rico and about 535 miles...865 km...southeast of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Felix is moving toward the west near 18 mph...30 km/hr...and this general motion is expected to continue during the next 24 hours. On this track...Felix will be passing near or to the north of the islands of Aruba...Bonaire and Curacao late tonight or early Sunday morning. Data from the stepped frequency microwave radiometer on board the Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 70 mph...110 km/hr...with higher gusts. Felix could become a hurricane later tonight or on Sunday. Tropical storm force winds have expanded and now extend outward up to 100 miles...160 km from the center. The latest minimum central pressure reported by an Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter plane was 999 mb...29.50 inches. Additional rainfall accumulations of 1 to 2 inches are expected across the southern Windward Islands with storm total amounts of 7 inches possible. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are possible over the offshore islands of Venezuela and the Netherlands Antilles islands of Aruba...Bonaire and Curacao. Repeating the 200 PM AST position...12.5 N...64.5 W. Movement toward...west near 18 mph. Maximum sustained winds...70 mph. Minimum central pressure...999 mb. The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 500 PM AST. $$ Forecaster Blake/Avila