[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KTAE 281235
HLSTAE

GMZ750-770-FLZ008-012-014-281600-

HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
826 AM EDT SUN AUG 28 2005

...KATRINA IS NOW AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE
CONTINUING TO MOVE TOWARDS THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF COAST...
...TROPICAL STORM WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE PANHANDLE COAST FROM
DESTIN EASTWARD TO INDIAN PASS...

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS ACTION TO BE TAKEN FOR RESIDENTS OF THE
EASTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE COAST...INCLUDING COASTAL WALTON...BAY AND
GULF COUNTIES.

...WATCH AND WARNING INFORMATION...
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM EAST OF DESTIN TO INDIAN
PASS IN GULF COUNTY FLORIDA. THIS MEANS TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS
ARE EXPECTED IN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 7 AM CDT...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY FIVE KATRINA WAS CENTERED
NEAR LATITUDE 25.7 DEGREES NORTH...LONGITUDE 87.7 DEGREES WEST...OR
ABOUT 250 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER. THIS IS ALSO ABOUT 330 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF PANAMA CITY
FLORIDA. KATRINA IS MOVING TO THE WEST NORTHWEST AT 12 MPH. THE
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO 160 MPH. THIS MAKES
KATRINA A CATEGORY FIVE ON THE SAFFIR SIMPSON HURRICANE INTENSITY
SCALE. THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE HAS FALLEN TO 908 MILLIBARS.
WHILE LITTLE ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED...IT IS DIFFICULT
TO FORECAST INTENSITY CHANGES OF MAJOR HURRICANES. KATRINA CONTINUES
TO EXPAND HER WIND FIELD. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS NOW EXTEND
OUTWARD TO 185 MILES. EVEN THOUGH THE CENTER OF KATRINA IS FORECAST
TO MAKE LANDFALL WELL TO THE WEST OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE...THE
EXPANDING WIND FIELD AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT KATRINA MIGHT MAKE
LANDFALL A LITTLE FURTHER TO THE EAST THAN EXPECTED COULD BRING
TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS TO PORTIONS OF THE EASTERN FLORIDA
PANHANDLE LATER TODAY AND MONDAY.

...PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
RESIDENTS ALONG THE COAST OF THE WARNED AREA SHOULD PREPARE FOR
TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS. SECURE LOOSE ITEMS SUCH AS GARBAGE
CANS...PATIO FURNITURE OR OTHER ITEMS THAT COULD EASILY BE PICKED UP
BY GUSTY WINDS. TAKE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO PROTECT AGAINST COASTAL
FLOODING...ESPECIALLY SINCE SO MUCH SAND WAS WASHED AWAY BY
HURRICANE DENNIS LAST MONTH. BE PREPARED TO EVACUATE IF LOCAL
EMERGENCY OFFICIALS ORDER AN EVACUATION.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
HIGH SURF WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY AS LARGE SWELLS EMANATE FROM
HURRICANE KATRINA. LAW ENFORCEMENT IN WALTON COUNTY HAVE REPORTED
WAVES UP TO 10 FEET IN THE SURF ZONE...WHICH HAS CAUSED MUCH OF THE
REPLACEMENT SAND FOR HURRICANE DENNIS TO BE WASHED AWAY. THE SURF
WILL ONLY GROW LARGER AS KATRINA APPROACHES THE CENTRAL GULF COAST.
STRONG ONSHORE FLOW ASSOCIATED WITH KATRINA WILL PRODUCE TIDES OF 3
TO 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL ALONG THE PANHANDLE. THESE ABOVE NORMAL TIDES
AND HIGH SURF WILL CAUSE BEACH EROSION AND COASTAL FLOODING THROUGH
MONDAY...ESPECIALLY AROUND AND AT THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE. THE BEACHES
OF WALTON COUNTY WILL BE CLOSED AS OF 8 AM CDT TODAY. THE FOLLOWING
ARE TIMES OF HIGH TIDE FOR SELECTED LOCATIONS...

APALACHICOLA...924 AM EDT SUNDAY AND 1037 AM MONDAY.

SAINT ANDREWS BAY AT PANAMA CITY...618 AM CDT MONDAY.

EAST PASS AT DESTIN...648 CDT MONDAY.

...WIND IMPACTS...
THE EASTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE WILL BE ON THE EASTERN EDGES OF
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS. SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH
LOCALLY HIGHER GUSTS TO 55 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE NEAR THE COAST. THIS
WILL OCCUR LATER TODAY THROUGH MONDAY...MAINLY IN SOME OF THE
HEAVIER RAINBANDS ASSOCIATED WITH KATRINA. SUCH WINDS TYPICALLY
CAUSE SEVERAL DOWNED TREE BRANCHES...A FEW DOWNED POWER LINES AND
POWER OUTAGES...TIPPED OVER GARBAGE CANS AND PATIO FURNITURE AND A
FEW UPROOTED TREES.

...RAINFALL AND FLOOD POTENTIAL...
THE STORM TOTAL RAINFALL FROM TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY IS EXPECTED TO
RANGE FROM 2 TO 4 INCHES...WITH THE HIGHER AMOUNTS OCCURRING FARTHER
WEST.  SOME LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS WILL BE POSSIBLE WHICH COULD
CAUSE FLOODING IN LOW LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.
HOWEVER...WIDESPREAD FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED.

...TORNADO THREAT...
ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE BEGINNING THIS EVENING.

...RIP CURRENTS...
THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS TODAY THROUGH MONDAY.
EVERYONE...INCLUDING EXPERIENCED SWIMMERS...SHOULD STAY OUT OF THE
SURF TODAY THROUGH MONDAY.

THE NEXT HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE BY NOON EDT (1100 AM CDT).

$$

38-GODSEY
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