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Tropical Storm RITA (Text)

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TROPICAL STORM RITA FORECAST/ADVISORY NUMBER   4
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL   AL182005
2100Z SUN SEP 18 2005
 
AT 5 PM EDT...2100Z...A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE
EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN FLORIDA PENINSULA FROM DEERFIELD BEACH
SOUTHWARD TO FLORIDA CITY AND CONTINUING WESTWARD TO EAST CAPE
SABLE.
 
AT 5 PM EDT... THE GOVERNMENT OF CUBA HAS ISSUED A HURRICANE WATCH
FOR THE PROVINCES OF VILLA CLARA...MATANZAS...CIUDAD DE HABANA...LA
HABANA...AND PINAR DEL RIO...AND A TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR THE
PROVINCES OF CIEGO DE AVILA...SANCTI SPIRITUS...AND CIENFUEGOS.
 
A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM
OCEAN REEF SOUTHWARD AND WESTWARD TO DRY TORTUGAS...INCLUDING
FLORIDA BAY.
 
A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS.
 
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS
ISLANDS...AND FOR THE SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS.
 
A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE
WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.  A TROPICAL
STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.  A TROPICAL STORM
WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE
WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.
 
TROPICAL STORM CENTER LOCATED NEAR 22.2N  72.7W AT 18/2100Z
POSITION ACCURATE WITHIN  30 NM
 
PRESENT MOVEMENT TOWARD THE WEST OR 280 DEGREES AT   9 KT
 
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE 1006 MB
MAX SUSTAINED WINDS  35 KT WITH GUSTS TO  45 KT.
34 KT....... 60NE   0SE   0SW  60NW.
12 FT SEAS.. 60NE   0SE   0SW  60NW.
WINDS AND SEAS VARY GREATLY IN EACH QUADRANT.  RADII IN NAUTICAL
MILES ARE THE LARGEST RADII EXPECTED ANYWHERE IN THAT QUADRANT.
 
REPEAT...CENTER LOCATED NEAR 22.2N  72.7W AT 18/2100Z
AT 18/1800Z CENTER WAS LOCATED NEAR 21.9N  72.4W
 
FORECAST VALID 19/0600Z 22.6N  74.7W
MAX WIND  45 KT...GUSTS  55 KT.
34 KT... 60NE  40SE  30SW  60NW.
 
FORECAST VALID 19/1800Z 23.2N  77.3W
MAX WIND  50 KT...GUSTS  60 KT.
50 KT... 50NE  25SE  25SW  50NW.
34 KT... 75NE  60SE  40SW  75NW.
 
FORECAST VALID 20/0600Z 23.5N  79.7W
MAX WIND  60 KT...GUSTS  75 KT.
50 KT... 50NE  25SE  25SW  50NW.
34 KT... 90NE  75SE  60SW  90NW.
 
FORECAST VALID 20/1800Z 23.5N  82.5W
MAX WIND  70 KT...GUSTS  85 KT.
50 KT... 50NE  25SE  25SW  50NW.
34 KT...100NE  75SE  75SW 100NW.
 
FORECAST VALID 21/1800Z 23.5N  87.5W
MAX WIND  75 KT...GUSTS  90 KT.
50 KT... 60NE  40SE  40SW  60NW.
34 KT...100NE  75SE  75SW 100NW.
 
EXTENDED OUTLOOK. NOTE...ERRORS FOR TRACK HAVE AVERAGED NEAR 250 NM
ON DAY 4 AND 325 NM ON DAY 5...AND FOR INTENSITY NEAR 20 KT EACH DAY
 
OUTLOOK VALID 22/1800Z 24.0N  91.5W
MAX WIND  85 KT...GUSTS 105 KT.
 
OUTLOOK VALID 23/1800Z 25.5N  95.0W
MAX WIND  95 KT...GUSTS 115 KT.
 
REQUEST FOR 3 HOURLY SHIP REPORTS WITHIN 300 MILES OF 22.2N  72.7W
 
NEXT ADVISORY AT 19/0300Z
 
FORECASTER KNABB
 
 
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