[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KJAX 081509
HLSJAX
FLZ024-025-033-038-082300-

HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1109 AM EDT THU SEP 8 2005

...LITTLE CHANGE IN THE SITUATION AS TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA
MEANDERS SLOWLY OVER THE ATLANTIC WATERS OFF CENTRAL FLORIDA...
...TROPICAL STORM WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FROM FERNANDINA BEACH TO
FLAGLER BEACH...

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY RESIDENTS IN THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA...NASSAU...DUVAL...ST
JOHNS...AND FLAGLER COUNTIES.

...WATCHES AND WARNINGS...
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA
COAST FROM FERNANDINA BEACH TO FLAGLER BEACH. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH
MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE IN SOME PORTION OF
THE WATCH AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 36 HOURS. A FLOOD WATCH IS ALSO IN
EFFECT FOR THESE COUNTIES AS WELL AS PUTNAM AND CLAY COUNTIES. ALL
RESIDENTS OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA SHOULD CLOSELY
MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS DUE TO UNCERTAINTY IN THE TRACK OF
TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 11 AM EDT...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 28.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 79.6 WEST. THIS POSITION IS ABOUT
70 MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF CAPE CANAVERAL OR 165 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
MAYPORT. OPHELIA IS CURRENTLY NEARLY STATIONARY BUT A NORTH OR
NORTHEASTWARD DRIFT IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. MAXIMUM
SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 60 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME
STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE CHANGE IN THE LOCATION OR STRENGTH OF
OPHELIA OVER THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS.THERE REMAINS CONSIDERABLE
UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE FUTURE MOTION AND INTENSITY OF OPHELIA AND
THEREFORE ALSO THE SPECIFIC LOCAL EFFECTS FROM THE STORM. THE
FORECAST TRACK CURRENTLY KEEPS THE STORM OFF...BUT VERY NEAR...THE
COAST INTO THE WEEKEND. ANY DEVIATION OF THE STORM TO THE WEST COULD
BRING TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS TO PORTIONS OF THE AREA WITHIN A FEW
HOURS. PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE MADE FOR THE POTENTIAL OF TROPICAL
STORM FORCE WINDS WITHIN THE WATCH AREA.

DUE TO THE ANTICIPATED SLOW MOVEMENT OF OPHELIA...PERSISTENT STRONG
NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS AND HIGH SURF WILL CONTINUE TO POUND THE
COAST FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS ALONG WITH OCCASIONAL SHOWER BANDS.
THIS WILL ALSO BRING A HIGH RISK OF DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS. LOOSE
OBJECTS AND BOATS ALONG AREA BEACHES SHOULD BE SECURED IMMEDIATELY.

...MARINE IMPACTS...
SMALL CRAFT ARE STRONGLY URGED TO REMAIN IN PORT. WINDS ARE
GUSTING TO TROPICAL STORM FORCE IN THE COASTAL WATERS. SEAS OF 10 TO
14 FEET ARE CURRENTLY BEING REPORTED OVER THE OFFSHORE COASTAL
WATERS. LOCAL INLETS WILL EXPERIENCE LARGE AND DANGEROUS BREAKERS
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. MARINERS NAVIGATING THE INTRA-COASTAL
WATERWAY AT ST ANDREWS SOUND ARE ADVISED THAT LARGE BREAKING WAVES
ARE LIKELY NEAR THE CHANNEL.

...FLOOD IMPACTS...
LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH OUTER BANDS AND CLUSTERS OF
SHOWERS FROM OPHELIA CONTINUE TO AFFECT PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST
FLORIDA. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED HIGHER
AMOUNTS NEAR 5 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE. THESE RAINFALL AMOUNTS MAY
NEED TO BE REVISED IF THE FORECAST TRACK CHANGES.

...WIND IMPACTS...
THE COMBINATION OF TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA AND A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE
TO OUR NORTH HAS HELPED TO CREATE SUSTAINED NORTHEAST WINDS NEAR 20
TO 30 MPH ALONG THE COAST WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 35 TO 40 MPH. FOR
THIS REASON...A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY. IN ADDITION...
STRONGER WIND GUSTS ARE OCCURRING IN PASSING SHOWER BANDS.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
TIDES OF 2 TO 3 FEET ABOVE NORMAL ARE EXPECTED ON THE COAST AND IN
THE COASTAL WATERWAYS. MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE
ALONG THE IMMEDIATE BEACHES...ESPECIALLY AT THE TIMES OF HIGH TIDE.
DUE TO VERY ROUGH SURF CONDITIONS...MODERATE BEACH EROSION IS
EXPECTED. IF THE STORM CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN AND REMAINS NEAR THE
COAST...MAJOR BEACH EROSION AND ADDITIONAL COASTAL FLOODING ARE
POSSIBLE IN THE TROPICAL STORM WATCH AREA. DUE TO THE SLOW MOTION
OF OPHELIA THESE CONDITIONS COULD PERSIST FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED OF HIGH WATER IN THE CANAL SYSTEM IN
FLAGLER COUNTY. WATER LEVELS ON THE INTRA-COASTAL WATERWAY SOUTH OF
MATANZAS INLET ARE LIKELY TO REMAIN HIGH OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND
MAY BEGIN TO CAUSE SOME MINOR FLOODING AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE CANALS.
INTERESTS ALONG THE CANALS SHOULD SECURE VULNERABLE PROPERTY AND
MARINE INTERESTS SHOULD CHECK THE SECURITY OF YOUR BOATS.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 6 PM...OR EARLIER SHOULD
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

LETRO

$$

This weather bulletin was brought to you by:
www.nashvilleweather.net