ZCZC MIATCPAT2 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM BULLETIN HURRICANE BONNIE INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 10A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 2 AM AST SAT AUG 22 1998 ...BONNIE BECOMES A HURRICANE... A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS...AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS. A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS...AND COULD BE UPGRADED TO A HURRICANE WARNING EARLY SATURDAY. THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE THE AREA EAST OF THE ACKLINS ISLANDS...AND THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS INCLUDE THE AREA FROM THE ACKLINS NORTHWESTWARD THROUGH CAT ISLAND AND GREAT EXUMA. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY IN THE HURRICANE WARNING AREA SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION. BONNIE COULD THREATEN THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES...AS A HURRICANE...WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. RESIDENTS ALONG THE COAST SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF BONNIE. AT 2 AM AST...0600Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE BONNIE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 68.7 WEST OR ABOUT 150 MILES...250 KM...EAST OF TURKS ISLAND. BONNIE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 17 MPH...28 KM/HR... AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ON SATURDAY. ON THIS TRACK THE CENTER OF BONNIE WILL BE NEARING THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS LATER THIS MORNING. REPORTS FROM A HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE THE FORMATION OF AN EYE AND THAT BONNIE HAS BECOME A HURRICANE. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 75 MPH...120 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 35 MILES. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 145 MILES...230 KM...MAINLY TO THE NORTH OF THE CENTER. THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT WAS 987 MB...29.15 INCHES. A STORM SURGE OF 3 TO 7 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS COULD OCCUR IN THE WARNED AREA. RAINBANDS ASSOCIATED WITH BONNIE WILL SPREAD OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS TONIGHT...PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY SHOWERS AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS. REPEATING THE 2 AM AST POSITION...21.8 N... 68.7 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...WEST NORTHWEST NEAR 17 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 75 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 987 MB. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 5 AM AST. RAPPAPORT NNNN