000 WTNT31 KNHC 090249 TCPAT1 BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM FLORENCE ADVISORY NUMBER 22 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL062006 1100 PM AST FRI SEP 08 2006 ...FLORENCE INTENSIFYING... A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR BERMUDA. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. AT 1100 PM AST...0300Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM FLORENCE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 24.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 61.4 WEST OR ABOUT 575 MILES...930 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF BERMUDA. FLORENCE IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 15 MPH...24 KM/HR...AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 65 MPH...100 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST AND FLORENCE COULD BECOME A HURRICANE ON SATURDAY. AN AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE FLORENCE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW HOURS. FLORENCE IS A LARGE SYSTEM AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 345 MILES...555 KM FROM THE CENTER. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 994 MB...29.35 INCHES. LARGE OCEAN SWELLS AND DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS...INCLUDING STRONG RIP CURRENTS...ARE ALREADY AFFECTING THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS...THE VIRGIN ISLANDS...PUERTO RICO...HISPANIOLA...AND BERMUDA. THESE CONDITIONS WILL BEGIN TO AFFECT THE TURKS AND CAICOS...THE BAHAMAS...AND THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES OVER THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. SEE STATEMENTS FROM LOCAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES FOR DETAILS ON COASTAL CONDITIONS. REPEATING THE 1100 PM AST POSITION...24.5 N...61.4 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 15 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...994 MB. AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 200 AM AST FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 500 AM AST. $$ FORECASTER KNABB/LANDSEA