[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KEYW 090214
HLSEYW
FLZ076>078-GMZ031>033-052>054-072>075-090330-

HURRICANE DENNIS LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
1000 PM EDT FRI JUL 8 2005

...THE EVACUATION HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED BY MONROE COUNTY OFFICIALS...
...SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY AND REMAIN UNTIL STORM PASSAGE...
...THREE REFUGES OF LAST RESORT MADE AVAILABLE...
...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS UNTIL 900 AM...
...HURRICANE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE LOWER KEYS...
...HURRICANE WATCH AND TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE
MIDDLE AND UPPER KEYS INCLUDING FLORIDA BAY...
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ALL THE FLORIDA KEYS...

...NEW INFORMATION SINCE LAST ISSUANCE.
UPDATED HEADLINES.
UPDATED TORNADO IMPACTS.

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

...WATCHES AND WARNINGS...
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE LOWER KEYS WEST OF THE
SEVEN MILE BRIDGE. A HURRICANE WATCH AND TROPICAL STORM WARNING ARE
IN EFFECT FOR THE MIDDLE AND UPPER KEYS...INCLUDING FLORIDA BAY. A
HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS...WINDS OF 74 MPH
OR GREATER...ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 900 PM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE DENNIS WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 22.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 81.7 WEST. THIS IS ABOUT 120 MILES
SOUTH OF KEY WEST. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE 115 MPH...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. DENNIS IS A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
SCALE. WHILE WEAKENING HAS OCCURRED AS THE STORM CROSSED
CUBA...DENNIS IS EXPECTED TO ENTER THE FLORIDA STRAITS AS A MAJOR
HURRICANE. DENNIS IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 14 MPH...AND
ON THIS COURSE THE CENTER SHOULD MOVE OFF THE NORTH CENTRAL COAST OF
CUBA NEAR HAVANA AND INTO THE FLORIDA STRAITS IN A FEW HOURS. THE
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE WAS ESTIMATED AT 957 MB...OR 28.26 INCHES
OF MERCURY.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THERE IS NO LONGER SUFFICIENT TIME TO EVACUATE FROM THE LOWER KEYS.
THE EVACUATION HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED BY MONROE COUNTY OFFICIALS.
SEEK SAFE REFUGE AND SHELTER IN PLACE FOR THE DURATION OF THE
HURRICANE. THREE REFUGES OF LAST RESORT HAVE BEEN OPENED TO HELP
PREVENT UNNECESSARY DEATH OR INJURY OF THOSE EVACUEES UNABLE TO
REACH THE MAINLAND. THEY ARE LOCATED AT KEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL IN KEY
WEST...STANLEY SWITLIK SCHOOL IN MARATHON...AND CORAL SHORES HIGH
SCHOOL AT MILE MARKER 90. NO SUPPLIES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE
REFUGES. FOR EMERGENCY INFORMATION CALL THE MONROE COUNTY EMERGENCY
HOTLINE AT 800-955-5504. THE MONROE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER IS
CURRENTLY FULLY ACTIVATED AND A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY IS IN
EFFECT FOR ALL OF MONROE COUNTY. KEY WEST AIRPORT AND LOWER KEYS
MEDICAL CENTER ARE CLOSED. THERE ARE NO FIRE OR RESCUE SERVICES FROM
STOCK ISLAND THROUGH MARATHON. ALL RESIDENTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO
MONITOR FUTURE MEDIA REPORTS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BULLETINS FOR
FURTHER PROTECTIVE ACTIONS AND OTHER INFORMATION.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
STORM SURGE THROUGH THE LOWER KEYS WILL RANGE FROM 2 TO 5
FEET...WITH 1 TO 3 FEET OF SURGE EXPECTED IN THE MIDDLE AND UPPER
KEYS. STORM TIDES WILL REACH MAXIMUM VALUES DURING THE EARLY MORNING
HOURS SATURDAY. THE GREATEST RISK FOR STORM SURGE FLOODING WILL
OCCUR ALONG SOUTH AND EAST FACING PORTIONS OF EACH ISLAND.

...WIND IMPACTS...
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED IN THE LOWER KEYS THIS EVENING.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE NOW IMPACTING THE KEYS. THE STRONGEST
WINDS WILL LIKELY OCCUR THROUGHOUT THE KEYS LATE THIS EVENING
THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING.

...MARINE IMPACTS...
SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT UNTIL STORM PASSAGE. TROPICAL
STORM FORCE WINDS ARE NOW IMPACTING THE FLORIDA STRAITS. IT IS NOT
SAFE TO BE AT SEA...DO NOT LEAVE PORT. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL
OCCUR TONIGHT IN THE LOWER KEYS.

...RAINFALL IMPACTS...
THE FLORIDA KEYS CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE 4 TO 8 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN
ASSOCIATION WITH HURRICANE DENNIS...EXCEPT LOCALLY UP TO 10 INCHES
POSSIBLE IN THE LOWER KEYS.

...TORNADO IMPACTS...
A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS UNTIL 900 AM
SATURDAY. A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADO DEVELOPMENT IN THE WATCH AREA...ESPECIALLY IN THE OUTER
RAINBANDS OF THE HURRICANE. IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED OR DETECTED ON
RADAR...A TORNADO WARNING WILL BE ISSUED.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT UPDATE ON HURRICANE DENNIS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN KEY WEST WILL BE AROUND 1130 PM EDT THIS EVENING...OR
WHEN NEW INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION...PLEASE CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/KEYWEST.

$$

FELTGEN























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