[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KKEY 301210
HLSKEY
FLZ076-077-078-GMZ031-032-033-052-053-054-072-073-074-075-301530-

TROPICAL STORM LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
810 AM EDT WED AUG 30 2006

...A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS...
...ERNESTO IS WEAKENING INLAND OVER SOUTH FLORIDA...

...NEW INFORMATION...
UPDATED STORM INFORMATION TO INCLUDE THE 800 AM EDT ADVISORY
INFORMATION. UPDATED WINDS TO INCLUDE RECENT REPORTS.


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

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF THE FLORIDA KEYS...
FROM OCEAN REEF TO THE DRY TORTUGAS. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS
THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA
WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 800 AM EDT...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 26.0 NORTH...LONGITUDE 81.0 WEST. THIS PLACES THE
CENTER OF CIRCULATION INLAND OVER MAINLAND MONROE COUNTY FLORIDA...
WHICH IS SOME 50 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF NAPLES, FLORIDA. ERNESTO IS
MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH NEAR 8 MPH...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY WITH A GRADUAL INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 40 MPH...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS EXPECTED TODAY. HOWEVER...RAINBANDS
CONTAINING STRONG GUSTY WINDS TO TROPICAL STORM FORCE WILL CONTINUE
TO AFFECT THE KEYS AREA TODAY. THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL
PRESSURE WAS 1001 MB...OR 29.56 INCHES OF MERCURY.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WIND GUSTS WILL PERSIST ALONG THE KEYS TODAY...
MAINLY THIS MORNING. GUSTY WINDS IN PASSING SQUALLS WILL MAKE
DRIVING DANGEROUS. BE EXTRA CAREFUL IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUT THIS
MORNING. KEYS SHELTERS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE CLOSED BY 10 AM. THE
MONROE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER IS TO BE DEACTIVATED BY
NOON. KEYS AIRPORTS ARE EXPECTED TO RE-OPEN SOMETIME TODAY. CALL
YOUR AIR CARRIER FOR SPECIFIC FLIGHT INFORMATION. COUNTY AND STATE
PARKS REMAIN CLOSED. MONROE COUNTY WILL KEEP OFFICES CLOSED TODAY.
TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE TO REPORT TO MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS THIS
MORNING...BUT STUDENTS WILL NOT RESUME CLASSES UNTIL THURSDAY. CITY
OF KEY WEST OFFICES WILL REOPEN TODAY...AS WELL AS LODGING ENTITIES.
CITY OF MARATHON AND ISLAMORADA OFFICES ARE ALSO SCHEDULED TO REOPEN
TODAY.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
STORM TIDE OF 1 TO 2 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL MAY OCCUR ON SOME BAY AND
GULF SIDE LOCATIONS OF THE FLORIDA KEYS. THE NEXT HIGH TIDE WILL
OCCUR AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS TODAY...202 PM AT ROCK HARBOR IN
KEY LARGO...156 PM AT WHALE HARBOR CHANNEL...202 PM AT VACA CUT IN
MARATHON...AND 313 PM AT KEY WEST HARBOR.

...WINDS...
WIND GAUGES AROUND THE KEYS AREA THE PAST FEW HOURS HAVE REGISTERED
GUSTS TO 43 MPH AT MOLASSES REEF...41 MPH AT LONG KEY...38 MPH AT
SOMBRERO KEY...AND 35 MPH AT SAND KEY. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WIND
GUSTS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE MORNING ALONG THE KEYS AND OVER
COASTAL WATERS.

...RAINFALL IMPACTS...
RADAR ESTIMATES SHOW OVERNIGHT RAINFALL ON THE KEYS GENERALLY 1 TO 2
INCHES...HOWEVER DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES SOME 3 TO 6 INCHES OF RAIN
MAY HAVE FALLEN ON LOWER KEYS LOCATIONS FROM THE TORCH KEYS TO
CUDJOE KEY. HOWEVER...AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE ON
KEYS ISLANDS TODAY IN QUICKLY PASSING SHOWERS. BE ALERT TO STANDING
WATER ON ROADWAYS...AND PONDING OF WATER IN POORLY DRAINED AREAS.

...MARINE...
SMALL CRAFT REMAIN IN PORT. THE BRIDGES AT JEWFISH CREEK AND SNAKE
CREEK ARE LOCKED DOWN. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WIND GUSTS ARE EXPECTED
TO AFFECT KEYS COASTAL WATERS TODAY...ESPECIALLY THIS MORNING.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT TROPICAL STORM LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 1130
AM EDT...OR SOONER IF NEW INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. REMEMBER TO
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/KEYWEST.

$$

BROCK










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