ZCZC MIATCPAT2 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM BULLETIN HURRICANE BONNIE SPECIAL ADVISORY NUMBER 26 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 2 PM EDT TUE AUG 25 1998 ...HURRICANE WARNING EXTENDED NORTHWARD... AT 2 PM EDT...1800Z...THE HURRICANE WARNING IS EXTENDED NORTHWARD TO CHINCOTEAGUE VIRGINIA. A HURRICANE WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM MURRELLS INLET SOUTH CAROLINA TO CHINCOTEAGUE VIRGINIA...INCLUDING PAMLICO AND ALBEMARLE SOUNDS...AND CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM SMITH POINT SOUTHWARD. A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SAVANNAH GEORGIA TO MURRELLS INLET SOUTH CAROLINA AND FROM CHINCOTEAGUE VIRGINIA TO CAPE HENLOPEN DELAWARE. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM MURRELLS INLET SOUTH CAROLINA TO CAPE ROMAIN SOUTH CAROLINA. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION IN THE HURRICANE WARNING AREA. INTERESTS IN THE WATCH AND WARNING AREAS SHOULD FOLLOW RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THEIR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS. AT 2 PM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE BONNIE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 30.0 NORTH...LONGITUDE 75.6 WEST OR ABOUT 330 MILES SOUTH OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA. THE TRACK OF BONNIE HAS BEEN WOBBLING A LITTLE ABOUT A GENERAL NORTH-NORTHWEST HEADING NEAR 16 MPH. THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING WITH A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD THE NORTH TONIGHT. THE FORECAST TRACK BRINGS THE CENTER NEAR THE OUTER BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA LATE WEDNESDAY MORNING. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE LIKELY TO ARRIVE AT THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND NORTH CAROLINA NEAR MIDNIGHT AND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS NEAR DAWN WEDNESDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 115 MPH...185 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. SOME FLUCTUATIONS MAY OCCUR BUT BONNIE IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN A POWERFUL HURRICANE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 145 MILES...230 KM... FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 190 MILES...305 KM. LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY THE HURRICANE HUNTERS IS 963 MB...28.44 INCHES. STORM SURGE FLOODING IS EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE NORTH OF WHERE THE HURRICANE REACHES THE COAST...WITH WATER LEVELS INCREASING UP TO 9 TO 11 FEET ABOVE NORMAL ASTRONOMICAL TIDAL LEVELS. LARGE SWELLS ARE PROPAGATING WELL AHEAD OF THE HURRICANE AND ARE IMPACTING PORTIONS OF THE U.S. EAST COAST. SEE STATEMENTS FROM LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN ASSOCIATION WITH BONNIE. REPEATING THE 2 PM EDT POSITION...30.0 N... 75.6 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTH NORTHWEST NEAR 16 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...115 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 963 MB. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 5 PM EDT. RAPPAPORT NO CHANGE IS MADE TO THE STRIKE PROBABILITIES IN THE PREVIOUS ADVISORY. NNNN