[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KEYW 260526
HLSEYW
FLZ076>078-GMZ031>033-052>054-072>075-260800-

HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
130 AM EDT SUN SEP 26 2004

...A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE MIDDLE AND UPPER
KEYS INCLUDING FLORIDA BAY...

...NEW INFORMATION SINCE LAST ISSUANCE...
UPDATED STORM INFORMATION.
UPDATED STORM SURGE INFORMATION.

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

...WATCHES AND WARNINGS...
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM
OCEAN REEF TO THE WEST END OF THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE...INCLUDING THE
ADJACENT ATLANTIC WATERS AND FLORIDA BAY. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH
MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA
WITHIN 36 HOURS. THERE ARE NO TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS IN EFFECT ANY
PORTION OF THE FLORIDA KEYS NOR FLORIDA BAY AT THIS TIME.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 100 AM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE JEANNE WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 27.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 80.4 WEST. THIS IS ABOUT 130 MILES
NORTH OF OCEAN REEF...AND ABOUT 10 MILES WEST OF STUART FLORIDA.
JEANNE IS A DANGEROUS CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS NEAR 120 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. JEANNE WILL BEGIN TO WEAKEN
AS THE CENTER MOVES FURTHER INLAND. JEANNE IS MOVING SLIGHTLY NORTH
OF WEST NEAR 13 MPH...AND A GRADUAL TURN TOWARDS THE NORTHWEST IS
EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. DURING THE PAST TWO HOURS...THE
CENTER OF JEANNE MADE LANDFALL NEAR THE SOUTHERN END OF HUTCHINSON
ISLAND...JUST EAST OF STUART. THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE WAS
MEASURED AT 953 MB...OR 28.14 INCHES OF MERCURY.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
EMERGENCY SHELTERS ARE OPEN IN THE UPPER KEYS...AT THE KEY LARGO
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL...AND IN THE MIDDLE KEYS...AT THE STANLEY SWITLIK
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. HOWEVER...DUE TO ALREADY POOR CONDITIONS
...RESIDENTS IN THE MIDDLE AND UPPER KEYS SHOULD LIMIT TRAVEL ON
ROAD WAYS...UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. THERE ARE NO MANDATORY
EVACUATION ORDERS IN EFFECT FOR THE KEYS AT THIS TIME. GREYHOUND BUS
HAS SUSPENDED BUS SERVICE UNTIL CONDITIONS ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA AND
THE KEYS IMPROVE.

...WIND IMPACTS...
THE ISLANDS IN THE MIDDLE AND UPPER KEYS WILL EXPERIENCE WEST WINDS
NEAR 25 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS NEAR 50 MPH IN SQUALLS. TRAVEL FOR HIGH
PROFILE VEHICLES IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED THE REMAINDER OF TONIGHT
AND MOST OF SUNDAY.

...MARINE IMPACTS...
SMALL CRAFT WITHIN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT. IN THE
ATLANTIC WATERS OFF THE UPPER AND MIDDLE KEYS TONIGHT AND
SUNDAY...WINDS OF 30 KNOTS ARE EXPECTED WITH TROPICAL STORM FORCE
GUSTS. SEAS WILL BE 8 TO 12 FEET OUTSIDE THE REEF...AND 3 TO 4 FEET
INSIDE THE REEF. FLORIDA BAY AND NEARSHORE WATERS WILL BE EXTREMELY
ROUGH.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
TIDES ARE CURRENTLY AROUND ONE FOOT ABOVE NORMAL ON THE BAYSIDE OF
MARATHON. WATER LEVELS UP TO 2 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDES ARE POSSIBLE
IN EASTERN FLORIDA BAY THIS MORNING...ESPECIALLY AROUND JEWFISH
CREEK. OTHERWISE...NO SIGNIFICANT STORM SURGE IS EXPECTED IN THE
FLORIDA KEYS WITH THE PASSAGE OF HURRICANE JEANNE. THE NEXT HIGH
TIDE AT VACA CUT WILL OCCUR AT 7:49 THIS MORNING.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT CONCERNING THE IMPACTS OF HURRICANE JEANNE
IN THE FLORIDA KEYS WILL BE ISSUED EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...AROUND 330
AM EDT.

$$

MR

This weather bulletin was brought to you by:
www.nashvilleweather.net