000 WTNT31 KNHC 232055 TCPAT1 BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA ADVISORY NUMBER 12 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL162011 500 PM AST FRI SEP 23 2011 ...OPHELIA STRENGTHENS AS IT WOBBLES WEST-NORTHWESTWARD... SUMMARY OF 500 PM AST...2100 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...15.5N 53.8W ABOUT 540 MI...870 KM E OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...60 MPH...95 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT 15 MPH...24 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1001 MB...29.56 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ AT 500 PM AST...2100 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 15.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 53.8 WEST. OPHELIA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 15 MPH...24 KM/H...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY...WITH A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHWEST POSSIBLE ON SUNDAY. REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT INDICATE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 60 MPH...95 KM/H... WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST TONIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING...WITH GRADUAL WEAKENING EXPECTED TO BEGIN BY SATURDAY NIGHT AND INTO SUNDAY. TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 260 MILES... 415 KM...MAINLY NORTH AND EAST OF THE CENTER. THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE RECENTLY REPORTED BY AN AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT WAS 1001 MB...29.56 INCHES. HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- NONE NEXT ADVISORY ------------- NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...1100 PM AST. $$ FORECASTER STEWART