Hurricane FRANCES

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HURRICANE FRANCES ADVISORY NUMBER  17
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
11 PM AST SAT AUG 28 2004

...FRANCES TURNING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST...
 
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MAY BE REQUIRED FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN
LEEWARD ISLANDS ON SUNDAY.
 
INTERESTS IN THE NORTHERN LESSER ANTILLES AND THE NORTHEASTERN
CARIBBEAN SEA SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF FRANCES OVER
THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.
 
AT 11 PM AST...0300Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE FRANCES WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 18.3 NORTH... LONGITUDE  53.4 WEST OR ABOUT  635
MILES...1025 KM... EAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS.
 
FRANCES HAS BEGUN TO TURN MORE TOWARD THE WEST...AS FORECAST...AND
IS NOW MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH...17 KM/HR AND
THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
 
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 135 MPH...215 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.  CONDITIONS APPEAR FAVORABLE FOR SOME ADDITIONAL
STRENGTHENING...AND FRANCES COULD REACH NEAR CATEGORY FIVE
INTENSITY ON SUNDAY.
 
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO  35 MILES... 55 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 115 MILES...185 KM.
 
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS  948 MB...27.99 INCHES.

REPEATING THE 11 PM AST POSITION...18.3 N... 53.4 W.  MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH.  MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS...135 MPH.  MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 948 MB.
 
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
 
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
5 AM AST.
 
FORECASTER JARVINEN
 
 
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