[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KKEY 281213
HLSKEY

FLZ076-077-078-GMZ031-032-033-052-053-054-072-073-074-075-281600

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

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

...NEW INFORMATION...
UPDATED STORM INFORMATION TO INCLUDE 800 AM EDT ADVISORY
INFORMATION. UPDATED PREPAREDNESS SECTION TO INCLUDE BEGINNING TIME
FOR SPECIAL NEEDS EVACUATION.

...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 800 AM EDT...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 19.9 NORTH...LONGITUDE 75.5 WEST...WHICH IS ABOUT
475 MILES SOUTHEAST OF KEY LARGO. 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 OVER
EASTERN CUBA TODAY...AND POSSIBLY EMERGE OFF THE NORTHERN COAST OF
CUBA LATER TONIGHT OR TUESDAY MORNING. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS WERE
NEAR 45 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS LIKELY OVER
LAND TODAY. THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE WAS ESTIMATED AT 1005
MB...OR 29.68 INCHES OF MERCURY.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THE MONROE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER IS NOW ACTIVATED.
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 PERSONS WILL BEGIN AT 1000 AM TODAY. MOBILE HOME AND
BOAT DWELLERS, AS WELL AS RESIDENTS RESIDING IN LOW-LYING AREAS
PRONE TO FLOODING, ARE ENCOURAGED TO UTILIZE HURRICANE SHELTERS
WITHIN THE FLORIDA KEYS. 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 NOON
...OR SOONER IF NEW INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. REMEMBER TO
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/KEYWEST.

$$

DEVANAS/BROCK







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