[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KEYW 242258 AAA
HLSEYW
FLZ076>078-GMZ031>033-052>054-072>075-250030-

TROPICAL STORM KATRINA LOCAL STATEMENT...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
700 PM EDT WED AUG 24 2005

...TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR THE MIDDLE AND UPPER KEYS...

...NEW INFORMATION SINCE LAST ISSUANCE.
UPDATED PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS.
UPDATED STORM INFORMATION.
UPDATED WIND IMPACTS.
UPDATED MARINE IMPACTS.

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

...WATCHES AND WARNINGS...
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE MIDDLE AND UPPER FLORIDA
KEYS...FROM THE WEST END OF THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE THROUGH OCEAN
REEF. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS...
INCLUDING WINDS OF 39 TO 73 MPH...ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA
WITHIN 36 HOURS. FOR PEOPLE PLANNING TO DRIVE NORTH FROM THE KEYS...
BE AWARE THAT A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND HURRICANE WATCH ARE IN
EFFECT FROM FLORIDA CITY TO VERO BEACH AS WELL AS FOR LAKE
OKEECHOBEE...AND A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT NORTH OF VERO
BEACH THROUGH MERRITT ISLAND.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 500 PM EDT...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM KATRINA WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 25.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 77.2 WEST...WHICH IS ABOUT 45
MILES NORTH NORTHEAST OF NASSAU IN THE BAHAMAS...OR ABOUT 205 MILES
EAST OF KEY LARGO. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45 MPH...WITH
HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED. TROPICAL STORM
KATRINA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH...AND A TURN
TOWARD WEST NORTHWEST OR WEST AT A SLIGHTLY SLOWER FORWARD SPEED IS
EXPECTED TO OCCUR TONIGHT OR EARLY THURSDAY. THE MINIMUM CENTRAL
PRESSURE WAS ESTIMATED AT 1002 MB...OR 29.59 INCHES OF MERCURY.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
MONROE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFICIALS SAY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE
SCHEDULED TO OPEN THURSDAY. A DECISION REGARDING FRIDAY CLASSES WILL
BE MADE THURSDAY. MONROE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS NOT ISSUED
ANY EVACUATION ORDERS...BUT CAUTIONS RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO
MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THE STORM. RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO LISTEN FOR
ANY BULLETINS FROM OFFICIAL MONROE COUNTY SOURCES TONIGHT AND
THURSDAY. VISITORS ENJOYING FLORIDA KEYS LODGING TODAY SHOULD CHECK
WITH THEIR FRONT DESK FOR ANY OFFICIAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM MONROE
COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

...WIND IMPACTS...
TROPICAL STORM FORCE GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 39 MPH ARE POSSIBLE IN THE
MIDDLE AND UPPER KEYS...FROM THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE THROUGH OCEAN
REEF...AND MAY BEGIN AS EARLY AS LATE THURSDAY EVENING. RESIDENTS
MAY CONSIDER SECURING LOOSE OBJECTS IN YARDS AND ON BALCONIES WHICH
COULD BE BLOWN ABOUT IN STRONG WINDS.

...MARINE IMPACTS...
WINDS AND SEAS WILL INCREASE OUT OF THE WEST AND NORTHWEST THURSDAY
EVENING. SEAS MAY BECOME HAZARDOUS FOR SMALL CRAFT OVER WATERS
ADJACENT TO THE MIDDLE AND UPPER KEYS THURSDAY...BECOMING MORE
HAZARDOUS FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. SEAS MAY BUILD UP TO 8 FEET
BEYOND THE REEF IN THE STRAITS OF FLORIDA BY THURSDAY NIGHT.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
NO SIGNIFICANT STORM SURGE FLOODING IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. TIDES
MAY RUN 1 TO 2 FEET HIGHER THAN NORMAL...WITH POSSIBLE MINOR
NUISANCE FLOODING OF DOCKS AND LOW COASTAL STREETS ALONG THE BAYSIDE
OF NORTH KEY LARGO AND JEWFISH CREEK LATE THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY.

...RAINFALL IMPACTS...
TOTAL RAINFALL OF 1 TO 3 INCHES...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS IN THE
UPPER KEYS...IS POSSIBLE BEGINNING THURSDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUING
THROUGH SATURDAY.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT UPDATE ON TROPICAL STORM KATRINA FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN KEY WEST WILL BE AROUND 830 PM EDT...OR WHEN NEW
INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION... PLEASE CHECK
OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/KEY WEST.

$$

DEVANAS/BROCK





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