ZCZC MIATCPAT3 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM BULLETIN TROPICAL DEPRESSION EIGHT INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 1A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 7 PM CDT THU SEP 17 1998 ...TROPICAL DEPRESSION DRIFTING OVER WEST-CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO... A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO COAST FROM SARGENT TEXAS TO GRAND ISLE LOUISIANA. SMALL CRAFT FROM SARGENT TO PORT ARANSAS TEXAS AND FROM GRAND ISLE TO THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT. AT 7 PM CDT...0000Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION EIGHT WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 26.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 92.1 WEST OR ABOUT 255 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF LAKE CHARLES LOUISIANA. THE HURRICANE HUNTERS HAVE FOUND THE DEPRESSION TO BE DRIFTING TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST DURING THE PAST FEW HOURS. THE DEPRESSION IS INTERACTING WITH A BROADER CIRCULATION IN WHICH IT IS EMBEDDED...AND A SLOW BUT SOMEWHAT ERRATIC MOTION IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS...FOLLOWED BY A MORE NORTHWARD MOTION. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MPH... 55 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS AND THE SYSTEM COULD BECOME A TROPICAL STORM ON FRIDAY. THE MOST RECENT MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED FROM RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT WAS 1000 MB...29.53 INCHES. REPEATING THE 7 PM CDT POSITION...26.5 N...92.1 W. MOVEMENT ...SOUTHWESTWARD DRIFT. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 35 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1000 MB. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 10 PM CDT. RAPPAPORT NNNN