000 WTNT33 KNHC 200242 TCPAT3 BULLETIN HURRICANE GORDON ADVISORY NUMBER 18 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL082012 1100 PM AST SUN AUG 19 2012 ...HURRICANE CONDITIONS LIKELY OVER PORTIONS OF THE EASTERN AZORES VERY SOON...PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE COMPLETE... SUMMARY OF 1100 PM AST...0300 UTC...INFORMATION ----------------------------------------------- LOCATION...36.7N 25.8W ABOUT 45 MI...70 KM WSW OF SANTA MARIA ISLAND IN THE AZORES MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...80 MPH...130 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...ENE OR 70 DEGREES AT 20 MPH...32 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...980 MB...28.94 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY... NONE. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT... A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR... * THE EASTERN AZORES A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ AT 1100 PM AST...0300 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE GORDON WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 36.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 25.8 WEST. GORDON IS MOVING TOWARD THE EAST-NORTHEAST NEAR 20 MPH...32 KM/H...AND A GRADUAL DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF GORDON WILL PASS NEAR OR OVER THE EASTERN AZORES IN A FEW HOURS...AND MOVE EAST OF THOSE ISLANDS LATER ON MONDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 80 MPH...130 KM/H...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GORDON IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. WEAKENING IS FORECAST OVER THE NEXT DAY OR TWO...BUT GORDON IS EXPECTED TO MAINTAIN HURRICANE INTENSITY UNTIL AFTER IT PASSES THE AZORES. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 35 MILES...55 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115 MILES...185 KM. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 980 MB...28.94 INCHES. HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- WIND...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE NOW AFFECTING PORTIONS OF THE EASTERN AZORES...AND HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OVER PORTIONS OF THE EASTERN AZORES WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. RAINFALL...GORDON IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES OVER THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN AZORES. SURF...SWELLS GENERATED BY GORDON WILL CAUSE DANGEROUS SURF AND RIP CURRENT CONDITIONS IN THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN AZORES. PLEASE CONSULT PRODUCTS FROM YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- NEXT INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY...200 AM AST. NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...500 AM AST. $$ FORECASTER PASCH