[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KEYW 250623
HLSEYW
FLZ076>078-GMZ031>033-052>054-072>075-250930-

TROPICAL STORM KATRINA LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
230 AM EDT THU AUG 25 2005

...TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR THE MIDDLE AND UPPER KEYS...

...NEW INFORMATION SINCE LAST ISSUANCE.
UPDATED STORM INFORMATION.
UPDATED PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS.

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT IS SPECIFIC TO THE FLORIDA KEYS OF MONROE COUNTY...
INCLUDING THE DRY TORTUGAS.

...WATCHES AND WARNINGS...
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE MIDDLE AND UPPER FLORIDA
KEYS...FROM THE WEST END OF THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE THROUGH OCEAN
REEF. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS...
INCLUDING WINDS OF 39 TO 73 MPH...ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA
WITHIN 36 HOURS. FOR THOSE PLANNING TO DRIVE NORTH FROM THE
KEYS...BE AWARE THAT A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM FLORIDA
CITY TO VERO BEACH INCLUDING LAKE OKEECHOBEE...AND A TROPICAL STORM
WATCH IS IN EFFECT NORTH OF VERO BEACH TO TITUSVILLE.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 200 AM EDT...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM KATRINA WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 26.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 78.4 WEST...WHICH IS ABOUT 35
MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF FREEPORT GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND...AND ABOUT
130 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE UPPER KEYS COMMUNITY OF OCEAN REEF.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. KATRINA
IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANE TODAY BEFORE REACHING THE
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST. THE STORM IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 8
MPH...AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT 24
HOURS. THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE WAS ESTIMATED AT 1000 MB...OR
29.53 INCHES OF MERCURY.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
MONROE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFICIALS INDICATE THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ARE SCHEDULED TO OPEN TODAY...HOWEVER...THIS MAY CHANGE...AND
OFFICIALS MAY DECIDE TO SEND CHILDREN HOME EARLY. A DECISION
REGARDING FRIDAY CLASSES WILL BE MADE TODAY. MONROE COUNTY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT HAS NOT ISSUED ANY EVACUATION ORDERS...BUT DOES CAUTION
RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THE STORM TODAY
AND LISTEN FOR ANY BULLETINS FROM OFFICIAL MONROE COUNTY SOURCES.
VISITORS ENJOYING FLORIDA KEYS LODGING TODAY SHOULD CHECK WITH THEIR
FRONT DESK FOR ANY OFFICIAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM MONROE COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

...WIND IMPACTS...
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 39 MPH ARE POSSIBLE IN THE
MIDDLE AND UPPER KEYS...FROM THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE THROUGH OCEAN
REEF...AND MAY BEGIN AS EARLY AS THIS EVENING. RESIDENTS SHOULD
CONSIDER SECURING LOOSE OBJECTS IN YARDS AND ON BALCONIES WHICH
COULD BE BLOWN ABOUT IN STRONG WINDS.

...MARINE IMPACTS...
WINDS AND SEAS WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE OUT OF THE WEST AND NORTHWEST
TODAY. SEAS MAY BECOME HAZARDOUS FOR SMALL CRAFT OVER WATERS
ADJACENT TO THE MIDDLE AND UPPER KEYS TODAY...BECOMING MORE
HAZARDOUS FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. SEAS MAY BUILD UP TO 8 FEET
BEYOND THE REEF IN THE STRAITS OF FLORIDA BY TONIGHT.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
NO SIGNIFICANT STORM SURGE FLOODING IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. TIDES
MAY RUN 1 TO 2 FEET HIGHER THAN NORMAL...WITH POSSIBLE MINOR
NUISANCE FLOODING OF DOCKS AND LOW COASTAL STREETS ALONG THE BAYSIDE
OF NORTH KEY LARGO AND JEWFISH CREEK LATE TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY.

...RAINFALL IMPACTS...
TOTAL RAINFALL OF 2 TO 4 INCHES...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS IN THE
UPPER KEYS...IS POSSIBLE BEGINNING TONIGHT AND CONTINUING
THROUGH SATURDAY.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT UPDATE ON TROPICAL STORM KATRINA FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN KEY WEST WILL BE AROUND 530 AM EDT...OR WHEN NEW
INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...PLEASE CHECK
OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/KEY WEST.

$$

FELTGEN






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