[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[Nashville EMWIN]

WTUS84 KMOB 111857
HLSMOB
FLZ001>006-112200-

TROPICAL STORM BONNIE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
155 PM CDT WED AUG 11 2004

...TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR
THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE...

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS SPECIFIC ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY RESIDENTS
OF ESCAMBIA...SANTA ROSA AND OKALOOSA COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR
THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE EAST OF THE ALABAMA/FLORIDA BORDER.
COASTAL COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA INCLUDED IN THE WARNING AND
WATCH AREAS ARE...ESCAMBIA...SANTA ROSA AND OKALOOSA COUNTIES.

...STORM INFORMATION...
THE CENTER OF BONNIE IS CURRENTLY LOCATED ABOUT 300 MILES SOUTH
SOUTHWEST OF PENSACOLA...OR NEAR LATITUDE 26.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE
89.5 WEST. BONNIE IS MOVING NORTHEAST NEAR 12 MPH.  THIS GENERAL
MOTION...WITH A GRADUAL INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED...IS EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
NO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVACUATION OF ANY AREA HAVE BEEN ISSUED AT
THIS TIME...BUT RESIDENTS OF THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA COASTAL AREAS ARE
URGED TO STAY TUNED TO LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION FOR ANY POSSIBLE
NOTICES FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES.  RESIDENTS SHOULD SECURE OUTDOOR
OBJECTS THAT COULD BECOME AIRBORNE AND BLOWN ABOUT BY THE WIND.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
TIDE LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY RISE TO NEAR 3 FEET BY TONIGHT
AND THURSDAY MORNING...WITH TIDES NEAR 4 FEET POSSIBLE ALONG THE
COAST OF OKALOOSA COUNTY.  HIGH TIDES ALONG THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA
COAST WILL OCCUR BETWEEN 700 AND 900 AM THURSDAY MORNING...WHICH IS
AROUND THE TIME BONNIE IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL SOMEWHERE NEAR
THE WALTON AND BAY COUNTY LINE.

...WIND IMPACTS...
BONNIE'S STRONGEST WINDS ARE CURRENTLY NEAR 65 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES FROM THE
CENTER.  ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24
HOURS AND BONNIE COULD BECOME A HURRICANE LATER TONIGHT OR THURSDAY
MORNING.  THE EASTERN PARTS OF THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING AREA ARE
AT THE HIGHEST RISK FOR STRONG WIND GUSTS.  OKALOOSA COUNTY COULD
SEE WINDS INCREASE TO AROUND 40 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS SOMETIME
BETWEEN 7 AND 9 AM THURSDAY MORNING.  WINDS OVER ESCAMBIA AND SANTA
ROSA COUNTIES SHOULD BE SOMEWHAT LESS.  WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
DIMINISH TO LESS THAN 20 MPH BY LATE THURSDAY MORNING.

...RIP CURRENTS AND RAINFALL AMOUNTS...
THE THREAT OF DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS DUE TO HIGH SURF WILL CONTINUE
INTO EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.  MODERATE ONSHORE WINDFLOW AND HIGH
SEAS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE TODAY AND TONIGHT.  THE RISK OF RIP
CURRENTS WILL DIMINISH DURING THE AFTERNOON ON THURSDAY.  PEOPLE ARE
DISCOURAGED FROM SWIMMING OR RECREATIONAL BOATING UNTIL THE EFFECTS
OF BONNIE MOVE OUT OF THE AREA.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE FLORIDA
PANHANDLE THROUGH THURSDAY.  PERSONS LIVING IN LOW LYING...FLOOD
PRONE AREAS OR NEAR CREEKS OR STREAMS SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT FOR
FLASH FLOODING AS BONNIE APPROACHES.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT SCHEDULED LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 5 PM THIS
AFTERNOON.

PURDY/CULLEN

$$

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