000 WTNT35 KNHC 140540 TCPAT5 BULLETIN TROPICAL DEPRESSION FIFTEEN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 3A NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL152008 200 AM AST TUE OCT 14 2008 ...TROPICAL DEPRESSION DRIFTING SOUTHEASTWARD... A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS...THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS...AND THE EXTREME EASTERN PORTION OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FROM ISLA SAONA TO CABO ENGANO. INTERESTS IN THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. CURACAO RADAR DATA INDICATE THAT THE DEPRESSION IS DRIFTING TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST. AT 200 AM AST...0600Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION FIFTEEN WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 14.3 NORTH...LONGITUDE 69.3 WEST OR ABOUT 360 MILES...580 KM...SOUTHWEST OF SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO AND ABOUT 145 MILES...235 KM...NORTH OF CURACAO. THE DEPRESSION IS MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST NEAR 2 MPH...4 KM/HR. A TURN TO THE EAST AND THEN NORTHEAST IS EXPECTED TODAY...WITH A GRADUAL INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED ON WEDNESDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MPH...55 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GRADUAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST OVER THE NEXT 48 HOURS...AND THE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A TROPICAL STORM TODAY. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1001 MB...29.56 INCHES. REPEATING THE 200 AM AST POSITION...14.3N...69.3W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...SOUTHEAST NEAR 2 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1001 MB. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 500 AM AST. $$ FORECASTER PASCH