000 WTNT32 KNHC 050840 TCPAT2 BULLETIN HURRICANE KATIA ADVISORY NUMBER 29 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL122011 500 AM AST MON SEP 05 2011 ...KATIA SLIGHTLY WEAKER AND MOVING STEADILY NORTHWESTWARD... SUMMARY OF 500 AM AST...0900 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...23.9N 62.0W ABOUT 400 MI...645 KM N OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS ABOUT 605 MI...975 KM SSE OF BERMUDA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...100 MPH...160 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 305 DEGREES AT 12 MPH...19 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...972 MB...28.70 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ AT 500 AM AST...0900 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE KATIA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 23.9 NORTH...LONGITUDE 62.0 WEST. KATIA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH...19 KM/H...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION WITH A SLIGHT DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 100 MPH...160 KM/H...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. KATIA IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON WIND SCALE. SOME STRENGTHENING IS STILL FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS...AND KATIA IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE BY TUESDAY. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES...75 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 185 MILES...295 KM. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 972 MB...28.70 INCHES. HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- SURF...LARGE SWELLS GENERATED BY KATIA ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT MOST OF THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES...BERMUDA...THE GREATER ANTILLES...AND EAST-FACING BEACHES OF THE BAHAMAS DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THESE SWELLS ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENT CONDITIONS. SWELLS AFFECTING THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS SHOULD BEGIN TO SUBSIDE TODAY. PLEASE CONSULT PRODUCTS FROM YOUR LOCAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...1100 AM AST. $$ FORECASTER KIMBERLAIN