ZCZC MIATCPAT2 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM BULLETIN TROPICAL DEPRESSION TWO INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 2A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 2 AM AST THU AUG 20 1998 ...TROPICAL STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS... A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ANTIGUA..BARBUDA... ANGUILLA...ST.MAARTEN...SABA...AND ST. EUSTATIUS. AT 2 AM AST...0600Z...THE CENTER OF THE BROAD TROPICAL DEPRESSION WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 16.9 NORTH...LONGITUDE 53.2 WEST OR ABOUT 540 MILES...875 KM...EAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS. THE DEPRESSION IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 18 MPH... 30 KM/HR...AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MPH... 55 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME GRADUAL STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED AND THE DEPRESSION COULD BECOME A TROPICAL STORM DURING THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS. THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1005 MB...29.68 INCHES. OUTER RAINBANDS OF THE DEPRESSION ARE EXPECTED TO SPREAD OVER PORTIONS OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS BY LATER THIS MORNING. REPEATING THE 2 AM AST POSITION...16.9 N... 53.2 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...WEST NORTHWEST NEAR 18 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 35 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1005 MB. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 5 AM AST. RAPPAPORT NNNN