ZCZC MIATCPAT2 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM BULLETIN HURRICANE GEORGES INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 37A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 2 PM EDT THU SEP 24 1998 A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH FLORIDA... FROM DEERFIELD BEACH SOUTHWARD ON THE EAST COAST AND FROM BONITA BEACH SOUTHWARD ON THE WEST COAST...INCLUDING THE FLORIDA KEYS. THIS INCLUDES MONROE...MIAMI DADE...BROWARD AND COLLIER COUNTIES. A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT JUST NORTH OF DEERFIELD BEACH...AT BOCA RATON...TO STUART ON THE FLORIDA EAST COAST AND FROM JUST NORTH OF BONITA BEACH NORTHWARD TO LONGBOAT KEY ON THE FLORIDA WEST COAST. THIS INCLUDES PALM BEACH...MARTIN...SARASOTA...CHARLOTTE AND LEE COUNTIES. A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CUBA FROM THE PROVINCE OF SANCTI SPIRITUS EASTWARD AND FOR THE CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS. A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CUBA FOR THE PROVINCES OF VILLA CLARA...CIENFUEGOS AND MATANZAS. HIGH RESOLUTION SATELLITE IMAGES INDICATE THAT THE CENTER OF GEORGES IS GRADUALLY BECOMING BETTER ORGANIZED AND AT 2 PM EDT...1800Z...WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 22.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 77.9 WEST IN THE VICINITY OF CAYO COCO ON THE NORTH COAST OF CENTRAL CUBA OR 295 MILES...475 KM...SOUTHEAST OF KEY WEST FLORIDA. GEORGES IS MOVING BETWEEN WEST-NORTHWEST AND NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH ...19 KM/HR...AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY BRINGING THE CENTER OF THE HURRICANE INTO THE FLORIDA STRAITS DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. DO NOT FOCUS ON THE PRECISE LOCATION AND TRACK OF THE CENTER. THE HURRICANES DESTRUCTIVE WINDS AND RAIN COVER A WIDE SWATH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 80 MPH...130 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 35 MILES... 55 KM... MAINLY TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 155 MILES...250 KM. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 989 MB...29.21 INCHES. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES...LOCALLY 20 INCHES OR MORE OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN...ARE LIKELY NEAR THE PATH OF GEORGES. THESE RAINS COULD PRODUCE LIFE THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUDSLIDES. STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS... ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE COAST IN THE WARNING AREA. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 5 PM EDT. AVILA NNNN