ZCZC MIATCPEP4 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM LESTER INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 7A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 11 AM PDT FRI OCT 16 1998 ...LESTER STRENGTHENING WHILE HEADING FOR THE SOUTHWEST COAST OF MEXICO... A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHWEST COAST OF MEXICO FROM PUERTO ARISTA TO PUNTA MALDONADO. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM EAST OF PUERTO ARISTA TO THE MEXICO/GUATEMALA BORDER. PREPARATIONS IN THE HURRICANE WARNING AREA SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION. INTERESTS FROM PUNTA MALDONADO TO ZIHUATANEJO SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF LESTER. SMALL CRAFT ALONG THE GUATEMALA COAST SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT UNTIL WINDS AND SEAS SUBSIDE. AT 11 AM PDT...1800Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM LESTER WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 14.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 94.4 WEST OR ABOUT 155 MILES...255 KM...SOUTHEAST OF HUATULCO MEXICO. LESTER IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 7 MPH...11 KM/HR...AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS...BRINGING THE CENTER OF LESTER TO NEAR THE COAST IN THE HURRICANE WARNING AREA. SATELLITE PICTURES INDICATE THAT AN EYE COULD BE DEVELOPING AND ESTIMATED MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NOW NEAR 70 MPH...110 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND LESTER IS FORECAST TO BECOME A HURRICANE BEFORE LANDFALL. A U.S. AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS EN ROUTE TO LESTER AND COULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE STORMS STRENGTH DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 60 MILES... 95 KM FROM THE CENTER. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 990 MB...29.23 INCHES. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS...TOTALLING 5 TO 10 INCHES WITH LOCALLY MUCH LARGER AMOUNTS OVER MOUNTAINOUS AREAS...COULD PRODUCE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. STORM TIDES OF 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL ASTRONOMICAL LEVELS... ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...COULD OCCUR NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF WHERE THE CENTER CROSSES THE COAST. REPEATING THE 11 AM PDT POSITION...14.4 N... 94.4 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 7 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 70 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...990 MB. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 2 PM PDT. RAPPAPORT NNNN