Tropical Storm GASTON

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TROPICAL STORM GASTON INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER   5A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
8 PM EDT SAT AUG 28 2004

...GASTON GETTING A LITTLE STRONGER...HURRICANE WARNINGS ISSUED FOR
SOUTH CAROLINA COAST...

AT 745 PM...2345Z...A HURRICANE WARNING WAS ISSUED FOR THE COAST OF
SOUTH CAROLINA FROM THE SAVANNAH RIVER TO LITTLE RIVER INLET.  A
HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE IN
THE WARNING AREA DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
 
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT ELSEWHERE ALONG THE
SOUTHEASTERN U.S. COAST NORTH OF LITTLE RIVER INLET TO SURF CITY
NORTH CAROLINA...AND SOUTH OF THE SAVANNAH RIVER TO FERNANDINA
BEACH FLORIDA.
 
AT 8 PM EDT...0000Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM GASTON WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 31.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE  79.1 WEST OR ABOUT 
95 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA.
 
GASTON IS NOW DRIFTING NORTHWESTWARD.  A SLOW MOTION TOWARD THE
NORTHWEST OR NORTH IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.  THIS
MOTION COULD BRING THE CENTER OF GASTON NEAR THE SOUTH CAROLINA
COAST BY LATE SUNDAY.
 
REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE
THAT MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR  65 MPH...WITH
HIGHER GUSTS.  ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST...AND GASTON
COULD BE A HURRICANE STRENGTH AS IT APPROACHES THE SOUTH CAROLINA
COAST.
 
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 60 MILES FROM THE
CENTER.
 
THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY THE HURRICANE HUNTER IS 
994 MB...29.35 INCHES.

STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...WITH
HIGHER LEVELS IN BAYS...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF
WHERE THE CENTER CROSSES THE COAST.  TIDES OF 1 TO 3 FT ABOVE
NORMAL CAN BE EXPECTED ELSEWHERE IN THE WARNED AREA.  DANGEROUS HIGH
SURF AND RIP CURRENTS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST IN THE
WARNED AREA.
 
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS...
CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG THE PATH OF GASTON.

ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY IN THE
COASTAL AREAS OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
 
REPEATING THE 8 PM EDT POSITION...31.5 N... 79.1 W.  MOVEMENT
DRIFTING NORTHWESTWARD.  MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 65 MPH.  MINIMUM
CENTRAL PRESSURE... 994 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
11 PM EDT.
 
FORECASTER LAWRENCE
 
 
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