000 WTNT32 KNHC 041452 TCPAT2 BULLETIN HURRICANE KATIA ADVISORY NUMBER 26 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL122011 1100 AM AST SUN SEP 04 2011 ...KATIA RAPIDLY INTENSIFIES TO A CATEGORY 2 HURRICANE... SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...INFORMATION ----------------------------------------------- LOCATION...21.9N 59.2W ABOUT 360 MI...580 KM NE OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...100 MPH...160 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 305 DEGREES AT 12 MPH...19 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...966 MB...28.53 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ AT 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE KATIA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.9 NORTH...LONGITUDE 59.2 WEST. KATIA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH...19 KM/H...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...KATIA WILL REMAIN NORTH OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 100 MPH...160 KM/H... WITH HIGHER GUSTS. KATIA IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...AND KATIA COULD BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE BY MONDAY. HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES...75 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175 MILES...280 KM. NOAA BUOY 41044 LOCATED JUST NORTH OF THE CENTER OF KATIA RECENTLY REPORTED A SUSTAINED WIND OF 90 MPH...144 KM/H AND A GUST TO 107 MPH...173 KM/H. THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE BASED ON RECENT PRESSURE REPORTS FROM NOAA BUOY 41044 IS 966 MB...28.53 INCHES. HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- SURF...SWELLS GENERATED BY KATIA ARE PRIMARILY AFFECTING THE NORTHERN LESSER ANTILLES BUT SHOULD BEGIN TO SUBSIDE TONIGHT OR MONDAY. SWELLS COULD BEGIN TO AFFECT BERMUDA BY EARLY NEXT WEEK. THESE SWELLS ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENT CONDITIONS. PLEASE CONSULT PRODUCTS FROM YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...500 PM AST. $$ FORECASTER BERG