000 WTNT31 KNHC 150834 TCPAT1 BULLETIN HURRICANE ALEX ADVISORY NUMBER 7 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL012016 500 AM AST FRI JAN 15 2016 ...ALEX WEAKENS SLIGHTLY WHILE IT MOVES CLOSER TO THE AZORES... ...HURRICANE CONDITIONS STILL EXPECTED OVER THE CENTRAL AZORES LATER THIS MORNING... SUMMARY OF 500 AM AST...0900 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...36.8N 27.0W ABOUT 130 MI...210 KM S OF TERCEIRA ISLAND IN THE CENTRAL AZORES ABOUT 155 MI...250 KM SE OF FAIAL ISLAND IN THE CENTRAL AZORES MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...N OR 5 DEGREES AT 23 MPH...37 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...986 MB...29.12 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: None. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * Faial, Pico, Sao Jorge, Graciosa, and Terceira in the central Azores A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * Sao Miguel and Santa Maria in the eastern Azores For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Alex was located near latitude 36.8 North, longitude 27.0 West. Alex is moving toward the north near 23 mph (37 km/h). A northward motion and a faster forward speed are expected this morning and afternoon, followed by a turn toward the north-northwest tonight and Saturday. On the forecast track, the center of Alex will move near or over portions of the central Azores this morning. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected over the next day or so. However, Alex will likely lose its tropical characteristics by this afternoon or tonight while it moves over colder waters. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles (335 km). Wind gusts to tropical storm force continue to be reported over portions the eastern and central Azores. The estimated minimum central pressure is 986 mb (29.12 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- WIND: Tropical-storm-force winds will continue to spread across all of the eastern and central Azores this morning. Hurricane conditions are expected to spread over the central Azores by late morning. Wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hills and mountains are often up to 30 percent stronger than the near-surface winds indicated in this advisory, and in some elevated locations could be even greater. RAINFALL: Alex is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 5 inches over the Azores through today, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 7 inches. These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. Rainfall should diminish across the Azores by late afternoon. STORM SURGE: A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding near and to the east of the center of Alex. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- Next intermediate advisory at 800 AM AST. Next complete advisory at 1100 AM AST. $$ Forecaster Stewart