ZCZC MIATCPAT3 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM MITCH INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 36A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 1 PM EST FRI OCT 30 1998 ...HEAVY RAIN AND FLOOD THREAT CONTINUES OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AMERICA... TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THE CARIBBEAN COAST OF HONDURAS...GUATEMALA...BELIZE...AND THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO FROM CABO CATOCHE SOUTHWARD...INCLUDING THE OFFSHORE ISLANDS. THE HURRICANE WATCH FOR BELIZE WAS DISCONTINUED AT 10 AM EST. SMALL CRAFT IN THE WARNING AREAS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT. AT 1 PM EST...1800Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM MITCH WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 15.3 NORTH...LONGITUDE 86.5 WEST. THIS POSITION IS INLAND OVER HONDURAS ABOUT 35 MILES...60 KM...SOUTHEAST OF LA CEIBA. MITCH IS DRIFTING TOWARD THE WEST SOUTHWEST NEAR 3 MPH...5 KM/HR. A SLOW MOSTLY WESTWARD DRIFT IS EXPECTED FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH... 65 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST TODAY. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175 MILES ...280 KM...MAINLY OVER THE WATER TO THE NORTH OF THE CENTER. THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 997 MB...29.44 INCHES. ADDITONAL RAINFALL TOTALS OF 15 TO 25 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF HONDURAS...NICARAGUA...WITH LESSER AMOUNTS OVER PORTIONS OF BELIZE...GUATEMALA...EL SALVADOR...AND THE YUCATAN PENINSULA. THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES...ESPECIALLY IN ASSOCIATION WITH HIGHER TERRAIN. REPEATING THE 1 PM EST POSITION...15.3 N... 86.5 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...WEST SOUTHWEST NEAR 3 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 40 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 997 MB. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 4 PM EST. LAWRENCE NNNN