ZCZC MIATCPAT3 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM GABRIELLE ADVISORY NUMBER 11 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 5 AM EDT FRI SEP 14 2001 ...GABRIELLE NEAR HURRICANE STRENGTH...MOVING FASTER TOWARD FLORIDA... AT 5 AM EDT...0900 UTC...THE TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR THE FLORIDA EAST COAST FROM NORTH OF JUPITER INLET TO ST. AUGUSTINE HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS ALSO BEING ISSUED FOR LAKE OKEECHOBEE. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM CRAIG KEY WESTWARD TO THE DRY TORTUGAS...INCLUDING FLORIDA BAY...AND FOR THE FLORIDA WEST COAST FROM FLAMINGO NORTHWARD TO THE MOUTH OF THE SUWANNEE RIVER. A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA WEST COAST FROM CHOKOLOSKEE TO TARPON SPRINGS. AT 5 AM EDT...0900Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM GABRIELLE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 26.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 83.1 WEST OR ABOUT 85 MILES...140 KM...WEST OF NAPLES FLORIDA. GABRIELLE IS NOW MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 10 MPH...17 KM/HR. THIS MOTION WILL BRING THE CENTER NEAR THE FLORIDA WEST COAST WITHIN THE WARNING AREA LATER TODAY. HOWEVER...MOST OF THE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR IN ADVANCE OF THE CENTER AND IS ALREADY AFFECTING THE COAST. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 70 MPH...110 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ALTHOUGH NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN INTENSITY IS EXPECTED BEFORE LANDFALL...GUSTS TO HURRICANE FORCE MAY OCCUR ASSOCIATED WITH HEAVY SQUALLS. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 145 MILES ...230 KM FROM THE CENTER. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 992 MB...29.29 INCHES. RAINBANDS ASSOCIATED WITH GABRIELLE ARE SPREADING OVER PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN FLORIDA PENINSULA AND THE KEYS. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...LOCALLY IN EXCESS OF 10 INCHES...IS LIKELY OVER PORTIONS OF THE FLORIDA PENINSULA AND KEYS DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO. SOME PARTS OF SOUTH AND CENTRAL FLORIDA ARE ALREADY SATURATED...AND THERE IS A SERIOUS FLOOD THREAT IN THESE AREAS. CONSULT STATEMENTS FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICES AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICES FOR DETAILS. STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL IS LIKELY NEAR AND TO THE SOUTH OF WHERE THE CENTER CROSSES THE COAST. THERE IS THE RISK OF ISOLATED TORNADOES OVER THE FLORIDA PENINSULA AND THE KEYS. REPEATING THE 5 AM EDT POSITION...26.1 N... 83.1 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTHEAST NEAR 10 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...70 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...992 MB. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 8 AM EDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 11 AM EDT. FORECASTER AVILA NNNN