ZCZC MIATCPAT2 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM BONNIE INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 9A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 8 PM AST FRI AUG 21 1998 ..BONNIE NEARING HURRICANE STRENGTH... A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS...AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS. A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS...AND MAY BE UPGRADED TO A HURRICANE WARNING LATER TONIGHT. THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE THE AREA EAST OF THE ACKLINS ISLANDS...AND THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS INCLUDE THE AREA FROM THE ACKLINS NORTHWESTWARD THROUGH CAT ISLAND AND GREAT EXUMA. BONNIE COULD THREATEN THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES...AS A HURRICANE...WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. RESIDENTS ALONG THE COAST SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF BONNIE. AT 8 PM AST...0000Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BONNIE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 20.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 67.5 WEST OR ABOUT 240 MILES...385 KM... EAST OF TURKS ISLAND. BONNIE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NORTHWEST NEAR 17 MPH ...28 KM/HR. THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ON THIS TRACK BONNIE WILL BEGIN TO AFFECT TURKS AND CAICOS AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS ON SATURDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 65 MPH...100 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. BONNIE IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANE LATER TONIGHT. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 145 MILES ...230 KM MAINLY TO THE NORTH OF THE CENTER. REPORTS FROM RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE HAS DROPPED TO 988 MB...29.18 INCHES. RAINBANDS ASSOCIATED WITH BONNIE CONTINUE SPREADING ACROSS THE LEEWARD ISLANDS...THE BRITISH AND U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS...PUERTO RICO AND HISPANIOLA PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY SHOWERS AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS. REPEATING THE 8 PM AST POSITION...20.8 N...67.5 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD ...WEST NORTHWEST NEAR 17 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 65 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 988 MB. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 11 PM AST. MAYFIELD NNNN