[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KEYW 190325
HLSEYW
FLZ076>078-GMZ031>033-052>054-072>075-190630-

TROPICAL STORM RITA LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
1130 PM EDT SUN SEP 18 2005

...HURRICANE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS...

...NEW INFORMATION SINCE LAST ISSUANCE...
WATCHES AND WARNINGS UPDATED.
STORM POSITION AND INTENSITY INFORMATION UPDATED.
MARINE IMPACTS UPDATED.
STORM SURGE IMPACTS UPDATED.
RAINFALL IMPACTS UPDATED.

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

...WATCHES AND WARNINGS...
THE HURRICANE WATCH FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A
HURRICANE WARNING. A HURRICANE WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF
THE FLORIDA KEYS...FROM OCEAN REEF TO THE DRY TORTUGAS...INCLUDING
THE 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 1100 PM EDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM RITA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 22.9 NORTH...LONGITUDE 73.3 WEST...OR ABOUT 470 MILES EAST
SOUTHEAST OF OCEAN REEF ON KEY LARGO AND 550 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF
KEY WEST. THE TROPICAL STORM WAS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST
NEAR 10 MPH. THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE
NEXT 24 HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24
HOURS...AND RITA COULD BECOME A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE BY LATE
MONDAY. THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE WAS 1002 MB...OR 29.59 INCHES
OF MERCURY.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THE MONROE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CENTER WILL BE FULLY
ACTIVATED ON MONDAY AT 700 AM. A MANDATORY EVACUATION FOR VISITORS
AND NON-RESIDENTS IS IN EFFECT FOR THE LOWER KEYS. RECREATIONAL
VEHICLES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ISLAND CHAIN MUST LEAVE. RESIDENTS IN
MOBILE HOMES AND IN LOW-LYING AREAS SHOULD PREPARE NOW FOR POSSIBLE
EVACUATION. RESIDENTS SHOULD INSTALL HURRICANE SHUTTERS
IMMEDIATELY...AND SECURE LOOSE OBJECTS WHICH MAY BECOME DANGEROUS
PROJECTILES. CITY OFFICES...COUNTY PARKS AND STATE PARKS ARE CLOSED.
COUNTY OFFICES WILL CLOSE AT NOON MONDAY. MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL
BE CLOSED MONDAY AND TUESDAY. AS OF THIS TIME...HOSPITALS WILL
REMAIN OPEN. TOLLS ON CARD SOUND ROAD ARE SUSPENDED. KEY WEST
INTERNATIONAL AND MARATHON AIRPORTS SHOULD BE OPERATIONAL THROUGH
MONDAY AFTERNOON. THE KEY WEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DIRECTOR
REPORTED AIRLINES STILL HAVE SEATS AVAILABLE.

...WIND IMPACTS...
WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE SLOWLY ON MONDAY. TROPICAL STORM
FORCE WINDS OF 39 TO 73 MPH MAY BEGIN MONDAY NIGHT. HURRICANE FORCE
WINDS OF 74 MPH OR GREATER WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS AS
EARLY AS TUESDAY MORNING.

...MARINE IMPACTS...
SMALL CRAFT SHOULD PLAN TO STAY IN PORT BEGINNING TONIGHT. NORTHEAST
WINDS WILL INCREASE AND SMALL CRAFT WILL EXPERIENCE HAZARDOUS
CONDITIONS IN OUR ATLANTIC WATERS TONIGHT AND IN FLORIDA BAY AND
GULF WATERS MONDAY MORNING. ON TUESDAY SEAS MAY BUILD IN THE FLORIDA
STRAITS BEYOND THE REEF TO 15 TO 20 FEET...EXCEPT 25 TO 30 FEET NEAR
THE CENTER OF RITA. IF YOU PLAN TO EVACUATE YOUR BOAT AND REQUIRE
THE BRIDGE TO OPEN ON JEWFISH CREEK OR SNAKE CREEK...YOU SHOULD
BEGIN YOUR TRIP AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE. THEY MAY CLOSE ON MONDAY TO
BOATS TRAVELING ON THE WATER. IF YOU PLAN FOR YOUR VESSEL TO REMAIN
IN THE KEYS...YOU MAY WISH TO USE THIS TIME TO ADD EXTRA LINES AND
DEPLOY EXTRA GROUND TACKLE.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
OUR STORM SURGE MODEL ESTIMATES A POTENTIAL SURGE OF 6 TO 8 FEET IN
THE LOWER KEYS AND 3 TO 6 FEET IN THE MIDDLE AND UPPER KEYS. THIS IS
IN AGREEMENT WITH OBSERVATIONS FROM PREVIOUS STORMS OF SIMILAR
STRENGTH ON A SIMILAR TRACK. OUR ASTRONOMICAL TIDES HAVE BEEN ABOUT
1 FOOT ABOVE NORMAL IN RECENT DAYS DUE TO THE FULL MOON. THEREFORE A
TOTAL OF 7 TO 9 FEET IS POSSIBLE SHOULD STORM PASSAGE COINCIDE WITH
THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE. HIGH TIDES AT WHALE HARBOR CHANNEL ARE AT
1031 AM AND 1045 PM ON MONDAY...ON AND TUESDAY AT 1118 AM AND 1129
PM. HIGH TIDES AT KEY WEST HARBOR ARE AT 1141 AM AND 1134 PM ON
MONDAY...230 PM ON TUESDAY...AND FINALLY 1208 AM EARLY WEDNESDAY.

...RAINFALL IMPACTS...
RAINFALL AMOUNTS FROM 6 TO 10 INCHES WITH ISOLATED 15 INCHES ARE
POSSIBLE WITH THE PASSAGE OF TROPICAL STORM RITA. FLOOD WATCHES MAY
BE NECESSARY BEGINNING MONDAY. AS THE STORM APPROACHES THESE
ESTIMATES WILL BE REFINED.

...NEXT UPDATE...
OUR NEXT UPDATE ON TROPICAL STORM RITA WILL BE AVAILABLE AROUND 230
AM TONIGHT...OR SOONER IF NEW INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.
REMEMBER TO VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/KEYWEST.

$$

CB/AF/SD/JR


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