| HOME | ARCHIVES | FORECASTS | IMAGERY | ABOUT NHC | RECONNAISSANCE |

---

Hurricane RAFAEL (Text)

ZCZC MIATCPAT2 ALL
TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM
 
BULLETIN
HURRICANE RAFAEL ADVISORY NUMBER  20
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL172012
1100 AM AST WED OCT 17 2012
 
...RAFAEL HEADING FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...
...FORECAST TO BECOME A POWERFUL EXTRATROPICAL CYCLONE LATER
TODAY...
 
 
SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...37.5N 59.1W
ABOUT 545 MI...875 KM SSE OF HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 30 DEGREES AT 35 MPH...56 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...975 MB...28.79 INCHES
 
 
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.
 
 
DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
AT 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE RAFAEL WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 37.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 59.1 WEST. RAFAEL IS
MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 35 MPH...56 KM/H.  A TURN
TOWARD THE NORTHEAST WITH SOME INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS
EXPECTED LATER TODAY.  A TURN TOWARD THE EAST-NORTHEAST IS
ANTICIPATED ON THURSDAY.
 
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 75 MPH...120 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.  RAFAEL IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
SCALE.  RAFAEL IS FORECAST TO LOSE TROPICAL CHARACTERISTICS LATER
TODAY...HOWEVER THE CYCLONE IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A STRONG
EXTRATROPICAL LOW OVER THE NORTH ATLANTIC DURING THE NEXT COUPLE
OF DAYS.
 
HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KM...FROM
THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 310
MILES...500 KM.
 
THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 975 MB...28.79 INCHES.
 
 
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
SURF...SWELLS GENERATED BY RAFAEL ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT BERMUDA...
EASTERN CANADA...AND PORTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES EAST COAST
DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO. THESE SWELLS ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE
LIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENTS. PLEASE CONSULT PRODUCTS
FROM YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
 
 
NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...500 PM AST.
 
$$
FORECASTER BROWN
 
NNNN