Tropical Depression NINE

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BULLETIN
TROPICAL DEPRESSION NINE INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER  4A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
2 PM AST FRI AUG 22 2003

...RECONNNAISSANCE PLANE IN THE AREA...HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING A
CLOSED CIRCULATION...
 
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH COAST OF THE
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FROM ISLA SAONA WESTWARD TO THE DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC-HAITI BORDER.
 
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR HAITI.
 
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MAY BE REQUIRED FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN CUBA
LATER TODAY. ALL INTERESTS IN EASTERN CUBA AND THE SOUTHEASTERN
BAHAMAS SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM.
 
AT 2 PM AST...1800Z...THE POORLY-DEFINED CENTER OF TROPICAL
DEPRESSION NINE WAS ESTIMATED NEAR LATITUDE 16.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 
69.4 WEST OR ABOUT 135 MILES...210 KM...SOUTH OF SANTO DOMINGO IN
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.  AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER
AIRCRAFT CURRENTLY IN THE AREA WILL DETERMINE IF THE SYSTEM HAS
DEGENERATED INTO A TROPICAL WAVE. 
 
THE DEPRESSION IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH
...19 KM/HR. THIS MOTION WOULD BRING THE CENTER OF THE TROPICAL
CYCLONE OVER HAITI WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
 
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR  35 MPH... 55 KM/HR...WITH
HIGHER GUSTS. ALTHOUGH THE SYSTEM APPEARS TO BE LESS ORGANIZED...
THE DEPRESSION STILL HAS THE CHANCE TO BECOME A TROPICAL STORM
BEFORE LANDFALL. 
 
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1008 MB...29.77 INCHES.
 
STORM TOTAL RAINFALL OF 3 TO 6 INCHES IS POSSIBLE ALONG THE PATH
OF THE DEPRESSION.  THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH
FLOODS AND MUDSLIDES...PARTICULARLY IN MOUNTAINOUS AREAS.
 
REPEATING THE 2 PM AST POSITION...16.5 N... 69.4 W.  MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH.  MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS... 35 MPH.  MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1008 MB.
 
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
 
THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
5 PM AST.
 
FORECASTER AVILA/MOLLEDA
  
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