ZCZC MIATCPAT2 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM BULLETIN HURRICANE GEORGES INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 32A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 8 AM EDT WED SEP 23 1998 ...GEORGES MOVING OVER THE WINDWARD PASSAGE... A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH FLORIDA...FROM DEERFIELD BEACH SOUTHWARD ON THE EAST COAST...AND FROM SOUTH OF BONITA BEACH SOUTHWARD ON THE WEST COAST...INCLUDING THE FLORIDA KEYS. THIS INCLUDES MONROE...MIAMI DADE...BROWARD AND COLLIER COUNTIES. A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR CUBA FROM SANCTI SPIRITUS EASTWARD. A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE PROVINCES OF VILLA CLARA...CIENFUEGOS AND MATANZAS. A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS. A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS. HURRICANE WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR HAITI. AT 8 AM EDT...1200Z THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC HAS DISCONTINUED THE HURRICANE WARNINGS. AT 8 AM EDT...1200Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE GEORGES WAS ESTIMATED NEAR LATITUDE 19.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 73.8 WEST. THIS POSITION IS OVER THE WINDWARD PASSAGE ABOUT 35 MILES...55 KM SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF THE EASTERN TIP OF CUBA AND ABOUT 600 MILES...975 KM SOUTHEAST OF KEY WEST FLORIDA. GEORGES IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NORTHWEST NEAR 15 MPH ...24 KM/HR ...AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY. THIS TRACK WILL BRING THE HURRICANE ACROSS PORTIONS OF EASTERN CUBA AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS TODAY. DO NOT FOCUS ON THE PRECISE LOCATION AND TRACK OF THE CENTER. THE HURRICANES DESTRUCTIVE WINDS AND RAINS COVER A WIDE SWATH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE ESTIMATED TO BE NEAR 75 MPH...120 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS PARTICULARLY OVER HIGH ELEVATIONS. A NOAA RECONNAISSANCE PLANE WILL BE IN THE AREA SOON AND WILL DETERMINE THE INTENSITY. SOME STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...IF THE HURRICANE REMAINS OVER WATER. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 60 MILES... 95 KM... FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175 MILES...280 KM. THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 987 MB...29.14 INCHES. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES...LOCALLY 20 INCHES OR MORE OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN...ARE LIKELY NEAR THE PATH OF GEORGES. THIS RAINS COULD PRODUCE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES. STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 4 TO 6 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS... ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE COAST IN THE WARNING AREA. REPEATING THE 8 AM EDT POSITION...19.8 N... 73.8 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...WEST NORTHWEST NEAR 15 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 75 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 987 MB. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 11 AM EDT. AVILA NNNN