000 WONT41 KNHC 232134 DSAAT SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 545 PM EDT TUE SEP 23 2008 AN AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE MISSION FLOWN THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE BROAD LOW PRESSURE AREA OVER HISPANIOLA INDICATES THIS SYSTEM HAS NOT BECOME ANY BETTER ORGANIZED...AND STILL LACKS A WELL-DEFINED LOW-LEVEL CIRCULATION CENTER. SINCE UPPER-LEVEL WINDS REMAIN SOMEWHAT FAVORABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT...THIS SYSTEM STILL HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO AS IT MOVES SLOWLY NORTHWESTWARD OR NORTHWARD AND AWAY FROM HISPANIOLA. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THIS SYSTEM BECOMES A TROPICAL DEPRESSION...IT WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAINFALL OVER PUERTO RICO...THE U.S. AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS... THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC...AND HAITI THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES. INTERESTS IN PUERTO RICO...THE U.S. AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS...THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC...HAITI...THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS...AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS SHOULD CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM AND ANY PRODUCTS ISSUED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE WEATHER FORECAST OFFICES. $$ FORECASTER RHOME/KNABB