ZCZC MIATCPAT2 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM BULLETIN HURRICANE GEORGES INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 29A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 2 PM AST TUE SEP 22 1998 ...EYE OF GEORGES OVER THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC... HURRICANE WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ...HAITI...THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS...THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS AND EASTERN CUBA FROM THE PROVINCE OF LAS TUNAS EASTWARD TO GUANTANAMO. A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND FOR CUBA FROM THE PROVINCE OF CAMAGUEY THROUGH SANCTI SPIRITUS. INTERESTS IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS...NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO SHOULD MAINTAIN PRECAUTIONS UNTIL WINDS AND SEAS SUBSIDE. A HURRICANE WATCH MAY BE REQUIRED FOR PORTIONS OF THE FLORIDA PENINSULA AND THE FLORIDA KEYS TONIGHT OR TOMORROW. AT 2 PM AST...1800Z...THE EYE OF HURRICANE GEORGES WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 18.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 69.7 WEST JUST NORTH OF THE CITY OF SANTO DOMINGO IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. GEORGES IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 14 MPH...22 KM/HR...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY. ON THIS TRACK...THE CORE OF THE HURRICANE WILL CONTINUE MOVING ACROSS THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND HAITI TODAY AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO FOCUS ON THE PRECISE FORECAST TRACK SINCE THE HURRICANES DESTRUCTIVE WINDS AND RAINS COVER A WIDE SWATH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE ESTIMATED TO NEAR 120 MPH...175 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. WEAKENING SHOULD BEGIN SHORTLY AS THE HURRICANE MOVES OVER THE HIGH MOUNTAINS OF HISPANIOLA. 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. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 965 MB...28.50 INCHES. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES...LOCALLY 20 INCHES OR MORE OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN...ARE LIKELY NEAR THE PATH OF GEORGES... ESPECIALLY AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE CENTER. STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 4 TO 7 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS... ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE COASTS IN THE WARNING AREA. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE IN ASSOCIATION WITH GEORGES. REPEATING THE 2 PM AST POSITION...18.6 N... 69.7 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...WEST NEAR 14 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...120 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 965 MB. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 5 PM AST. AVILA NNNN