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Tropical Storm ERIKA


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BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM ERIKA ADVISORY NUMBER  14
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL052015
500 AM AST FRI AUG 28 2015

...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS AND HEAVY RAIN STILL AFFECTING THE
VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO...


SUMMARY OF 500 AM AST...0900 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...17.7N 67.7W
ABOUT 155 MI...250 KM ESE OF SANTO DOMINGO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
ABOUT 430 MI...690 KM ESE OF GREAT INAGUA ISLAND
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH...85 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 17 MPH...28 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1006 MB...29.71 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The Government of the Dominican Republic has issued a Tropical
Storm Warning for the south coast of the Dominican Republic west of
Isla Saona.

The Government of the Bahamas has issued a Tropical Storm Warning
for the central Bahamas, including Cat Island, the Exumas, Long
Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador.

The Government of the Bahamas has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for
the northwestern Bahamas, including the Abacos, Andros Island, Berry
Islands, Bimini, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island, and New Providence.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Puerto Rico
* Vieques
* Culebra
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* British Virgin Islands
* Dominican Republic
* Haiti
* Southeastern Bahamas
* Turks and Caicos Islands
* Central Bahamas
* St. Martin
* St. Barthelemy

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Northwestern Bahamas

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

For storm information specific to your area in the United States,
including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office. For storm information specific to your area outside the
United States, please monitor products issued by your national
meteorological service.


DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Erika was
located near latitude 17.7 North, longitude 67.7 West. Erika is
moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph (28 km/h), and this
general motion is expected to continue for the next 48 hours. On
the forecast track, the center of Erika will move over the Dominican
Republic today, move near the Turks and Caicos Islands tonight, and
move near the central and northwestern Bahamas Saturday and Saturday
night.

Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts.
Some weakening is forecast today as Erika moves over land, followed
by little change in strength through Saturday.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 150 miles (240 km)
to the north and east of the center. A Weatherflow station in Las
Mareas, Puerto Rico, recently reported a wind of 52 mph (84 km/h).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1006 mb (29.71 inches).


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND: Tropical storm conditions currently affecting the Virgin
Islands and Puerto Rico will continue for the next several hours
before subsiding later today. Tropical storm conditions will spread
across portions of the Dominican Republic and Haiti today, the Turks
and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas later today and
tonight, and the central Bahamas on Saturday. Tropical storm
conditions are possible in the northwestern Bahamas by Saturday
night.

RAINFALL: Erika is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations
of 4 to 8 inches with maximum amounts of 12 inches possible across
portions of the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic
and Haiti, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the southeastern and
central Bahamas through Saturday. These rains could cause life-
threatening flash floods and mud slides.


NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next intermediate advisory at 800 AM AST.
Next complete advisory at 1100 AM AST.

$$
Forecaster Brennan

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