000 WTNT31 KNHC 030542 TCPAT1 BULLETIN HURRICANE ALEX INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 11A NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 2 AM EDT TUE AUG 03 2004 ...ALEX BECOMES THE FIRST HURRICANE OF THE 2004 SEASON...MOVING ALMOST PARALLEL TO THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST... A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM CAPE LOOKOUT TO OREGON INLET NORTH CAROLINA...INCLUDING THE PAMLICO SOUND. THIS MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM NORTH OF OREGON INLET TO THE NORTH CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER...INCLUDING THE ALBEMARLE SOUND. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FROM SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SOUTH CAROLINA TO CAPE LOOKOUT NORTH CAROLINA. REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AT WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA INDICATE THAT ALEX HAS BECOME A HURRICANE. AT 2 AM EDT...0600Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE ALEX WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 33.0 NORTH...LONGITUDE 77.4 WEST OR ABOUT 75 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA. ALEX IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 9 MPH. THIS GENERAL MOTION...WITH A GRADUAL INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED...IS EXPECTED FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF ALEX IS FORECAST TO PASS VERY NEAR THE NORTH CAROLINA OUTER BANKS LATER TODAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 75 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE TODAY. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES FROM THE CENTER. A NOAA BUOY LOCATED NEAR FRYING PAN SHOALS NORTH CAROLINA RECENTLY REPORTED A WIND GUST OF 49 MPH. THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY AN AIR FORCE RESERVE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT WAS 983 MB...29.03 INCHES. STORM TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 2-3 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS...CAN BE EXPECTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH ALEX. COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 1-2 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS CAN BE EXPECTED ON ATLANTIC SHORELINES. STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 2-4 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS CAN BE EXPECTED INSIDE PAMLICO SOUND. HIGH SURF AND RIP CURRENTS WILL AFFECT MUCH OF THE SOUTHEASTERN AND MID-ATLANTIC U.S. COASTAL AREAS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. REPEATING THE 2 AM EDT POSITION...33.0 N... 77.4 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTHEAST NEAR 9 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS... 75 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 983 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 AM EDT. FORECASTER BEVEN $$