000 WTNT31 KNHC 300840 TCPAT1 BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM KIRK ADVISORY NUMBER 7 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL112012 500 AM AST THU AUG 30 2012 ...KIRK CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN... SUMMARY OF 500 AM AST...0900 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...26.5N 49.0W ABOUT 1065 MI...1715 KM NE OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS ABOUT 1505 MI...2425 KM WSW OF THE AZORES MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH...100 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 310 DEGREES AT 10 MPH...17 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...997 MB...29.44 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ AT 500 AM AST...0900 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM KIRK WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 26.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 49.0 WEST. KIRK IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH...17 KM/H. A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST AND NORTH IS EXPECTED THROUGH FRIDAY...FOLLOWED BY AN ACCELERATION TO THE NORTH-NORTHEAST FRIDAY NIGHT. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 65 MPH...100 KM/H... WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS...AND KIRK COULD BECOME A HURRICANE LATER TODAY OR TONIGHT. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 60 MILES...95 KM FROM THE CENTER. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 997 MB...29.44 INCHES. HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- NONE. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...1100 AM AST. $$ FORECASTER BERG