[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KEYW 071803
HLSEYW
FLZ076>078-GMZ031>033-052>054-072>075-072130-

HURRICANE DENNIS LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
200 PM EDT THU JUL 7 2005

...A HURRICANE WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF FLORIDA KEYS
INCLUDING THE FLORIDA BAY...

...MANDATORY EVACUATION OF VISITORS AND NON RESIDENTS...

...MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS TO BEGIN EVACUATION AT 6 PM...

...NEW INFORMATION SINCE LAST ISSUANCE...
UPDATED STORM INFORMATION.
UPDATED MARINE IMPACTS.

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

...WATCHES AND WARNINGS...
A HURRICANE WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF THE FLORIDA KEYS
INCLUDING THE FLORIDA BAY. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE
CONDITIONS...WINDS OF 74 MPH OR GREATER...ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE
NEXT 36 HOURS.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 200 PM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE DENNIS WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 18.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 76.1 WEST. THIS IS ABOUT 540 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF KEY WEST...AND 525 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MARATHON. MAXIMUM
SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 110 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
DENNIS IS JUST BELOW THE THRESHOLD OF CATEGORY THREE INTENSITY ON
THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST TODAY
AND TONIGHT. DENNIS IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 15 MPH...AND
THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
THIS MOTION WILL BRING THE CENTER NEAR OR OVER WEST CENTRAL CUBA
LATE FRIDAY NIGHT. THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE WAS ESTIMATED AT 962
MB...OR 28.41 INCHES OF MERCURY.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
MONROE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS ORDERED A VISITOR AND
NONRESIDENT EVACUATION FOR THE ENTIRE FLORIDA KEYS BEGINNING AT NOON
THURSDAY. THE EVACUATION ORDERS INCLUDE ALL TRAVEL TRAILERS AND
RECREATIONAL VEHICLES. RESIDENTS LIVING ON BOATS NEED TO SECURE
THEIR VESSELS AND EVACUATE AS WELL. COUNTY AND STATE PARKS ARE BEING
ORDERED TO CLOSE THURSDAY. THE TOLLS ON CARD SOUND ROAD ARE TO BE
LIFTED. VISITORS WITH IMMEDIATE PLANS TO VISIT THE KEYS MUST
POSTPONE THEM UNTIL THE RISK OF THE STORM PASSES. THE MONROE
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER IS TO BE FULLY ACTIVATED FRIDAY MORNING.
MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS ARE BEING ASKED TO EVACUATE THURSDAY EVENING
BEGINNING AT 6 PM. RESIDENTS SHOULD BEGIN EFFORTS TO SECURE THEIR
PROPERTY. BOATS SHOULD BE SECURED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THE DRAW
BRIDGES AT SNAKE CREEK IN ISLAMORADA AND JEWFISH CREEK IN KEY LARGO
ARE TO BE LOCKED DOWN AT 10 PM THURSDAY SO THAT VEHICULAR TRAFFIC
FLOW WILL NOT BE INTERRUPTED BY BOATS. RESIDENTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO
MONITOR FUTURE MEDIA REPORTS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BULLETINS IN
THE EVENT OF FUTURE PROTECTIVE ACTIONS.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
STORM SURGE IN THE LOWER KEYS IS EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 3 TO 5 FEET.
UPPER AND MIDDLE KEYS CAN EXPECT 1 TO 2 FEET OF STORM SURGE.

...WIND IMPACTS...
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO APPROACH THE FLORIDA KEYS
LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON. CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE
FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND FRIDAY NIGHT.

...MARINE IMPACTS...
WINDS AND SEAS WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE THIS EVENING...AS HURRICANE
DENNIS APPROACHES. THEREFORE...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT
UNTIL THE AFFECTS OF HURRICANE DENNIS HAVE PASSED. TROPICAL STORM
FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE FLORIDA STRAITS EARLY FRIDAY
AFTERNOON...AND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE POSSIBLE LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT. FURTHERMORE...SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL INCREASE TONIGHT WITH
INCREASING SQUALLS EXPECTED FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

...RAINFALL IMPACTS...
THE FLORIDA KEYS CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE 4 TO 6 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN
ASSOCIATION WITH HURRICANE DENNIS.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT UPDATE FOR HURRICANE DENNIS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN KEY WEST WILL BE AROUND 530 PM EDT THURSDAY
AFTERNOON...OR WHEN NEW INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION...PLEASE CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/EYW.

$$

LK


























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