000 WTNT32 KNHC 062035 TCPAT2 BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM PALOMA ADVISORY NUMBER 5 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL172008 400 PM EST THU NOV 06 2008 ...PALOMA STILL STRENGTHENING... AT 4 PM EST...2100 UTC...THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS HAS ISSUED A HURRICANE WARNING FOR THE CAYMAN ISLANDS. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION. AT 4 PM EST...THE TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR NICARAGUA AND HONDURAS HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. 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 400 PM EST...2100Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM PALOMA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 16.3 NORTH...LONGITUDE 81.8 WEST OR ABOUT 210 MILES...340 KM...SOUTH OF GRAND CAYMAN AND ABOUT 300 MILES...480 KM ...WEST-SOUTHWEST OF MONTEGO BAY JAMAICA. PALOMA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH NEAR 8 MPH...13 KM/HR. THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TONIGHT WITH A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD THE NORTHEAST FORECAST LATE ON FRIDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 65 MPH...100 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. FURTHER STRENGTHENING IS LIKELY AND PALOMA IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANE LATER TONIGHT OR TOMORROW. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KM FROM THE CENTER. AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER PLANE RECENTLY REPORTED A MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 994 MB...29.35 INCHES. PALOMA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES OF RAIN OVER THE CAYMAN ISLANDS WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM TOTALS OF 12 INCHES POSSIBLE. REPEATING THE 400 PM EST POSITION...16.3 N...81.8 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTH NEAR 8 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...994 MB. AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 700 PM EST FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 1000 PM EST. $$ FORECASTER BLAKE/PASCH