000 WTNT32 KNHC 080840 TCPAT2 BULLETIN TROPICAL STORM FRED ADVISORY NUMBER 3 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL072009 500 AM AST TUE SEP 08 2009 ...FRED STRENGTHENING OVER THE FAR EASTERN TROPICAL ATLANTIC... AT 500 AM AST...0900 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM FRED WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 11.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 27.3 WEST OR ABOUT 285 MILES...460 KM...SOUTHWEST OF THE SOUTHERNMOST CAPE VERDE ISLANDS. FRED IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 15 MPH...24 KM/HR. A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST AND NORTHWEST WITH A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. SATELLITE IMAGES INDICATE THAT THE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 50 MPH...85 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST...AND FRED COULD BECOME A HURRICANE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1000 MB...29.53 INCHES. ...SUMMARY OF 500 AM AST INFORMATION... LOCATION...11.8N 27.3W MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH PRESENT MOVEMENT...WEST OR 275 DEGREES AT 15 MPH MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1000 MB THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 1100 AM AST. $$ FORECASTER PASCH