[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KKEY 281606
HLSKEY
FLZ076-077-078-GMZ031-032-033-052-053-054-072-073-074-075-281900-

TROPICAL STORM LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
1200 PM 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 1100 AM EDT ADVISORY
INFORMATION. INTRODUCED RAINFALL THREAT SECTION.

...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
NOW IN EFFECT ON THE MAINLAND FROM CHOKOLOSKEE FLORIDA TO NEW SMYRNA
BEACH FLORIDA. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE FORCE WINDS
ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN 36 HOURS.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 1100 AM EDT...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 20.3 NORTH...LONGITUDE 75.7 WEST...WHICH IS ABOUT
445 MILES SOUTHEAST OF KEY LARGO. TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO WAS MOVING
TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH. THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED
OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ON THIS TRACK THE CENTER WILL CONTINUE TO
MOVE OVER EASTERN CUBA TODAY...AND POSSIBLY EMERGE OFF THE NORTHERN
COAST OF CUBA LATER TONIGHT OR TUESDAY MORNING. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS WERE NEAR 40 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS
LIKELY OVER LAND THIS AFTERNOON. THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE WAS
ESTIMATED AT 1006 MB...OR 29.71 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 IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. 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 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. THE LAST FLIGHT FROM KEY WEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
IS SCHEDULED TO DEPART AT 730 PM TONIGHT. CAR RENTAL AVAILABILITY AT
KEY WEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WILL CONTINUE TODAY...AND ONLY FROM
600 AM TO 1000 AM ON TUESDAY MORNING. ALL COUNTY AND STATE PARKS
ARE CLOSED. MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

...WINDS...
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN SAFE FOR TRAVEL FOR HIGH PROFILE
VEHICLES THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS
MAY REACH THE MIDDLE AND UPPER KEYS BY LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

...RAINFALL IMPACTS...RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF BETWEEN 4 AND 6
INCHES...MAINLY IN THE MIDDLE AND UPPER KEYS...ARE POSSIBLE.

...PROBABILITY OF HURRICANE/TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS...THE
PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS IN KEY WEST IS 43
PERCENT... AND 55 PERCENT AT MARATHON. THE PROBABILITY OF HURRICANE
FORCE WINDS AT KEY WEST IS 6 PERCENT...AND 8 PERCENT AT MARATHON.

...MARINE...
EAST WINDS OF 10 TO 15 KNOTS THIS AFTERNOON WILL GRADUALLY SHIFT TO
THE NORTHEAST ACROSS THE FLORIDA STRAITS AND INCREASE TO BETWEEN 20
AND 30 KNOTS AFTER SUNRISE ON TUESDAY. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS
MAY REACH THE OUTER EASTERN STRAITS BEFORE NOON ON TUESDAY.
CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE THROUGHOUT TUESDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS THE
UPPER AND MIDDLE KEYS COASTAL WATERS.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT TROPICAL STORM LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 300
PM...OR SOONER IF NEW INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. REMEMBER TO
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/KEYWEST.

$$

DEVANAS/FUTTERMAN











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