000 WTNT32 KNHC 172049 TCPAT2 BULLETIN POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE RAFAEL ADVISORY NUMBER 21 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL172012 500 PM AST WED OCT 17 2012 ...RAFAEL NOW AN EXTRATROPICAL CYCLONE... ...THIS IS THE LAST ADVISORY... SUMMARY OF 500 PM AST...2100 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...40.2N 56.5W ABOUT 475 MI...760 KM SE OF HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NE OR 35 DEGREES AT 35 MPH...56 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 PM AST...2100 UTC...THE CENTER OF POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE RAFAEL WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 40.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 56.5 WEST. THE LOW IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 35 MPH...56 KM/H. A TURN TOWARD THE EAST-NORTHEAST WITH SOME INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED ON THURSDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 75 MPH...120 KM/H...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GRADUAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS... HOWEVER THE CYCLONE IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN A STRONG EXTRATROPICAL LOW OVER THE NORTH ATLANTIC DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 80 MILES...130 KM... FROM THE CENTER...AND GALE-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 310 MILES...500 KM. THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 972 MB...28.70 INCHES. HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- SURF...SWELLS GENERATED BY THE CYCLONE ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE COAST OF EASTERN CANADA DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO. THESE SWELLS ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENTS. PLEASE CONSULT PRODUCTS FROM YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- THIS IS THE LAST PUBLIC ADVISORY ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER ON RAFAEL. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS SYSTEM CAN BE FOUND IN HIGH SEAS FORECASTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...UNDER AWIPS HEADER NFDHSFAT1 AND WMO HEADER FZNT01 KWBC. $$ FORECASTER BROWN