[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KKEY 280947
HLSKEY
FLZ076-077-078-GMZ031-032-033-052-053-054-072-073-074-075-281230-

TROPICAL STORM LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
530 AM EDT MON AUG 28 2006

...HURRICANE WATCH FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS...
...MANDATORY EVACUATION OF VISITORS AND NON-RESIDENTS...

...NEW INFORMATION...
TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO IS MOVING NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH TOWARD THE
SOUTHERN COAST OF EASTERN CUBA. AT 500 AM...THE CENTER OF ERNESTO
WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 19.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 75.4 WEST...OR
ABOUT 45 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF GUANTANAMO, CUBA...AND HAD MAXIMUM
SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR 50 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. PREPAREDNESS
INFORMATION HAS BEEN UPDATED TO INCLUDE SHELTER LOCATIONS.

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

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL THE FLORIDA KEYS AND
SURROUNDING WATERS INCLUDING FLORIDA BAY. A HURRICANE WATCH IS ALSO
IN EFFECT ON THE MAINLAND FROM CHOKOLOSKEE FLORIDA TO DEERFIELD
BEACH FLORIDA. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE FORCE WINDS
ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN 36 HOURS.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 500 AM EDT...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 19.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 75.4 WEST...WHICH IS ABOUT 535
MILES SOUTHEAST OF KEY WEST. TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO WAS MOVING
TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH. THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED
OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ON THIS TRACK THE CENTER WILL MOVE ONTO THE
SOUTHEASTERN COAST OF CUBA LATER THIS MORNING...AND POSSIBLY EMERGED
OFF THE NORTHERN COAST OF CUBA LATER TONIGHT OR TUESDAY MORNING.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS WERE NEAR 50 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME
SLIGHT STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE UNTIL ERNESTO MAKES LANDFALL ON
CUBA...WITH SOME WEAKENING POSSIBLE WHILE OVER CUBA. THE MINIMUM
CENTRAL PRESSURE WAS ESTIMATED AT 1002 MB...OR 29.59 INCHES OF
MERCURY.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THE MONROE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER WILL BE ACTIVATED
AS OF 600 AM TODAY. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS ORDERED A MANDATORY
EVACUATION OF ALL VISITORS AND NON-RESIDENTS. TRAVEL TRAILERS AND
RECREATIONAL VEHICLES SHOULD LEAVE THE KEYS IMMEDIATELY. THE
EVACUATION OF SPECIAL-NEEDS PATIENTS IS TO BEGIN TO THE SHELTER AT
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY AT 600 AM TODAY. THE SHELTER AT
F-I-U WILL OPEN AT 1000 AM. JUST FOLLOW THE SIGNS. MOBILE HOME AND
BOAT DWELLERS, AS WELL AS RESIDENTS RESIDING IN LOW-LYING AREAS
PRONE TO FLOODING, ARE ENCOURAGED TO UTILIZE HURRICANE SHELTERS.
KEYS HURRICANE SHELTERS WILL OPEN AT 1000 AM. KEYS SHELTERS INCLUDE
KEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL AT 2100 FLAGLER AVENUE...SUGARLOAF ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL AT MILE MARKER 19...STANLEY SWITLIK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT
3400 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY IN MARATHON...AND CORAL SHORES HIGH SCHOOL AT
MILE MARKER 89 ON PLANTATION KEY. KEY WEST AIRPORT WILL CONTINUE
OPERATIONS THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. ALL COUNTY AND STATE PARKS ARE
CLOSED. MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
THOSE SEEKING SHELTER ON THE MAINLAND SHOULD BE AWARE THAT A
HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM CHOKOLOSKEE FLORIDA TO DEERFIELD
BEACH FLORIDA.

...WINDS...
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN SAFE FOR TRAVEL FOR HIGH PROFILE
VEHICLES THROUGH MONDAY EVENING. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS MAY
REACH THE KEYS AROUND MIDDAY TUESDAY. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS MAY
FOLLOW BY TUESDAY EVENING.

...PROBABILITY OF HURRICANE/TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS...
THE PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS IN KEY WEST IS 54
PERCENT...AND 62 PERCENT AT MARATHON. THE PROBABILITY OF HURRICANE
FORCE WINDS AT KEY WEST IS 9 PERCENT...AND AT MARATHON IT IS 13
PERCENT.

...MARINE...
SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT STARTING MONDAY NIGHT. EAST WINDS
OF 10 TO 15 KNOTS MONDAY...GRADUALLY WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHEAST
AND INCREASE OVERNIGHT MONDAY. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS MAY REACH
THE STRAITS TUESDAY MORNING. CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE TUESDAY AND
TUESDAY NIGHT.

...NEXT UPDATE...
WE WILL ISSUE OUR NEXT TROPICAL STORM LOCAL STATEMENT AROUND 830
AM...OR SOONER IF NEW INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. REMEMBER TO
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/KEYWEST.

$$

DEVANAS/BROCK





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