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BULLETIN
HURRICANE BONNIE INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER  15A
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
8 AM EDT SUN AUG 23 1998

...HURRICANE BONNIE MEANDERING...COULD THREATEN THE EAST COAST OF   
   THE UNITED STATES...
 
A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN
BAHAMAS.  A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWESTERN
BAHAMAS.
 
PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO
COMPLETION IN THE HURRICANE WARNING AREA.
 
BONNIE COULD THREATEN THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN 
THE NEXT FEW DAYS.  RESIDENTS ALONG THE COAST SHOULD CONTINUE TO
MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THE HURRICANE.
 
AT 8 AM EDT...1200Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE BONNIE WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 24.0 NORTH...LONGITUDE 71.7 WEST OR ABOUT 180
MILES...290 KM...EAST OF SAN SALVADOR ISLAND IN THE BAHAMAS.

STEERING CURRENTS ARE WEAK...AND BONNIE HAS MOVED LITTLE OVER THE
PAST SEVERAL HOURS.  HOWEVER A NORTHWESTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED TO
RESUME TODAY.  ON THIS TRACK...THE CENTER OF BONNIE WILL PASS TO THE
NORTHEAST OF THE SOUTHEASTERN AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS TODAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 105 MPH...165 KM/HR ...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.  THIS MAKES BONNIE A STRONG CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE
SAFFIR/SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE.  SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS
FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. A RECONNAISSANCE PLANE IS
CURRENTLY APPROACHING BONNIE.

BONNIE IS A LARGE HURRICANE WITH HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTENDING
OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES... 75 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL
STORM FORCE WINDS EXTENDING OUTWARD UP TO 175 MILES...280 KM...
MAINLY TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE CENTER.
 
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 959 MB...28.32 INCHES.
 
A STORM SURGE OF 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS COULD OCCUR 
IN THE WARNED AREA.
 
RAINBANDS ASSOCIATED WITH BONNIE ARE SPREADING OVER PORTIONS OF 
THE WARNED AREA...PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY SHOWERS AND STRONG GUSTY
WINDS.  FIVE TO TEN INCHES OF RAIN MAY OCCUR ALONG THE PATH OF THE
HURRICANE.
 
REPEATING THE 8 AM EDT POSITION...24.0 N... 71.7 W.  MOVEMENT
NEARLY STATIONARY.  MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...105 MPH.  MINIMUM
CENTRAL PRESSURE... 959 MB.
 
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER 
AT 11 AM EDT.
 
PASCH
 
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