[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KEYW 250312
HLSEYW
FLZ076>078-GMZ031>033-052>054-072>075-250630-

TROPICAL STORM KATRINA LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
1115 PM EDT WED AUG 24 2005

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

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

...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 WHO MIGHT BE PLANNING TO DRIVE NORTH
FROM THE KEYS...BE AWARE THAT A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR
AREAS FROM FLORIDA CITY TO VERO BEACH INCLUDING LAKE OKEECHOBEE...
AND A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT NORTH OF VERO BEACH TO
TITUSVILLE.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 1100 PM EDT...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM KATRINA WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 26.0 NORTH...LONGITUDE 78.0 WEST...WHICH IS ABOUT 60
MILES SOUTHEAST OF FREEPORT GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND...OR ABOUT 150 MILES
EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE UPPER KEYS COMMUNITY OF OCEAN REEF. MAXIMUM
SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. KATRINA IS
EXPECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANE ON THURSDAY BEFORE BEFORE REACHING
THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST. TROPICAL STORM KATRINA IS NOW MOVING
TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 8 MPH...AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE WAS ESTIMATED
AT 1001 MB...OR 29.56 INCHES OF MERCURY.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
MONROE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFICIALS INDICATE THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ARE SCHEDULED TO OPEN THURSDAY...BUT IF THE STORM CHANGES TRACK THEN
THE SCHOOL DAY MAY BE CURTAILED AND CHILDREN SENT HOME EARLY.
A DECISION REGARDING FRIDAY CLASSES WILL BE MADE THURSDAY. MONROE
COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS NOT ISSUED ANY EVACUATION ORDERS...
BUT DOES CAUTION 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 WINDS 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 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 BEGIN TO INCREASE OUT OF THE WEST AND NORTHWEST
THURSDAY. 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 2 TO 4 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 230 AM EDT...OR WHEN NEW
INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION... PLEASE CHECK
OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/KEY WEST.

$$

RIZZO/BROCK




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