[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KJAX 090300
HLSJAX
FLZ024-025-033-038-090900-

HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1059 PM EDT THU SEP 8 2005

...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.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 11 PM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE OPHELIA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 28.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 79.3 WEST. THIS POSITION IS ABOUT
80 MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF CAPE CANAVERAL OR 175 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
MAYPORT. OPHELIA IS CURRENTLY NEARLY STATIONARY BUT A NORTHEASTWARD
MOTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. MAXIMUM
SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 75 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING
IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THE FORECAST TRACK OF OPHELIA 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
WATCH AREA WITHIN A FEW HOURS. THIS DICTATES A CONTINUATION OF THE
TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA COAST.

EVEN IF OPHELIA GETS NO CLOSER TO OUR COAST...PERSISTENT STRONG
NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS AND HIGH SURF WILL CONTINUE TO POUND THE
COAST ALONG WITH OCCASIONAL SHOWER BANDS UNTIL THE STORM MOVES WELL
OUT TO SEA. A HIGH RISK OF DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS WILL CONTINUE.
LOOSE OBJECTS AND BOATS ALONG AREA BEACHES SHOULD BE SECURED
IMMEDIATELY.

ALL RESIDENTS OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA SHOULD
CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS DUE TO UNCERTAINTY
IN THE FUTURE TRACK OF HURRICANE OPHELIA.

...MARINE IMPACTS...
SMALL CRAFT ARE STRONGLY URGED TO REMAIN IN PORT. WINDS ARE GUSTING
TO TROPICAL STORM FORCE IN THE COASTAL WATERS WITH SEAS OF UP TO 13
FEET. 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 WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST
FLORIDA INTO FRIDAY. ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE
POSSIBLE THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

...WIND IMPACTS...
THE COMBINATION OF TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA AND A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE
TO OUR NORTH HAS HELPED TO CREATE SUSTAINED NORTHEAST WINDS OF 15 TO
25 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH...MAINLY ALONG THE
COAST. FOR THIS REASON...A LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT.

...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.

IN FLAGLER COUNTY...WATER IS AT THE TOP OF SEAWALLS IN PALM COAST
AND HIGHWAY A1A HAS BEEN REROUTED IN PARTS OF FLAGLER BEACH DUE TO
HIGH WATER. WATER LEVELS ON THE INTRA-COASTAL WATERWAY SOUTH OF
MATANZAS INLET ARE LIKELY TO REMAIN HIGH OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND
ADDITIONAL MINOR FLOODING IS POSSIBLE. 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 5 AM...OR EARLIER SHOULD
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

$$
ZAPPE

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