000 WTNT32 KNHC 061739 TCPAT2 BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM PALOMA INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 4A NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL172008 100 PM EST THU NOV 06 2008 ...INTENSIFYING PALOMA TURNS TOWARD THE NORTH... A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CAYMAN ISLANDS. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM PUERTO CABEZAS NICARAGUA NORTHWARD TO LIMON HONDURAS. THIS WATCH COULD BE DISCONTINUED LATER TODAY. INTERESTS IN CUBA AND JAMAICA SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF PALOMA. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. AT 100 PM EST...1800Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM PALOMA WAS LOCATED BY AIRCRAFT RECONNAISSANCE NEAR LATITUDE 15.9 NORTH...LONGITUDE 81.9 WEST OR ABOUT 105 MILES...165 KM...NORTHEAST OF CABO GRACIAS A DIOS ON THE NICARAGUA/HONDURAS BORDER AND ABOUT 235 MILES...380 KM...SOUTH OF GRAND CAYMAN. PALOMA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH NEAR 7 MPH...11 KM/HR. THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TODAY WITH A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD THE NORTHEAST FORECAST LATE ON FRIDAY OR ON SATURDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 60 MPH...75 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. STEADY STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...AND PALOMA COULD BECOME A HURRICANE TONIGHT OR TOMORROW. STEPPED FREQUENCY MICROWAVE RADIOMETER DATA INDICATE THAT TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 60 MILES...90 KM FROM THE CENTER. AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER PLANE RECENTLY REPORTED A MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 997 MB...29.44 INCHES. PALOMA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES OVER EASTERN HONDURAS AND NORTHEASTERN NICARAGUA. OVER THE CAYMAN ISLANDS...4 TO 8 INCHES OF RAIN IS EXPECTED WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM TOTALS OF 12 INCHES POSSIBLE. REPEATING THE 100 PM EST POSITION...15.9 N...81.9 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTH NEAR 7 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...60 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...997 MB. THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 400 PM EST. $$ FORECASTER BLAKE/PASCH