000 WTNT63 KNHC 190030 TCUAT3 HURRICANE BILL TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL032009 830 PM AST TUE AUG 18 2009 ...BILL BECOMES A MAJOR HURRICANE... REPORTS FROM A NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER PLANE INDICATE THAT BILL HAS STRENGTHENED AND MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 125 MPH...205 KM/HR. BILL A CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR/SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. A COMPLETE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 11 PM AST. KIMBERLAIN/PASCH