000 ABNT20 KNHC 181145 TWOAT TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 800 AM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008 FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO... THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IS ISSUING ADVISORIES ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA...LOCATED ABOUT 825 MILES SOUTH OF CAPE RACE NEWFOUNDLAND. SURFACE OBSERVATIONS AND RADAR DATA FROM CURACAO INDICATE THAT THE BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IN THE CENTRAL CARIBBEAN SEA HAS CONTINUED TO MOVE WESTWARD AND IS NOW CENTERED JUST TO THE NORTHWEST OF ARUBA. THE LOW PRESSURE AREA HAS BECOME BETTER ORGANIZED OVERNIGHT AND A TROPICAL CYCLONE COULD FORM AT ANY TIME AS THE SYSTEM MOVES TOWARD THE WEST AT ABOUT 20 MPH. ANOTHER RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE THE LOW THIS AFTERNOON. ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE WEATHER IS TO THE NORTH OF THE SYSTEM...ISOLATED AREAS OF HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE OVER NORTHWESTERN VENEZUELA AND ADJACENT ISLANDS TODAY. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA AND CENTRAL AMERICA ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A WESTWARD-MOVING TROPICAL WAVE. SINCE THIS SYSTEM IS CENTERED OVER NICARAGUA AND HONDURAS...DEVELOPMENT OVER THE CARIBBEAN SEA IS NOT ANTICIPATED. HOWEVER...THIS SYSTEM IS PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS OVER PORTIONS OF THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA...AND WILL SPREAD HEAVY RAINS OVER PORTIONS OF HONDURAS...NICARAGUA....BELIZE AND GUATEMALA FOR THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. THIS ACTIVITY COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUDSLIDES. AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE JUST OFF THE GEORGIA COAST IS PRODUCING THUNDERSHOWERS AND GUSTY WINDS MAINLY OVER WATER. SURFACE PRESSURES ARE STEADILY FALLING IN THE AREA AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME A LITTLE MORE CONDUCIVE FOR DEVELOPMENT...AND A TROPICAL DEPRESSION COULD FORM DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO...ESPECIALLY IF THE LOW REMAINS OFFSHORE. THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO DRIFT TO THE NORTH OR NORTHEAST. ELSEWHERE...TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS. $$ FORECASTER BLAKE/KNABB/AVILA