000
WTNT63 KNHC 250442
TCUAT3
 
HURRICANE SANDY TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL182012
1230 AM EDT THU OCT 25 2012
 
...SANDY RAPIDLY STRENGTHENS SOUTHWEST OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA...

SUMMARY OF 1230 AM EDT...0430 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...19.6N 76.1W
ABOUT 30 MI...50 KM SW OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...110 MPH...175 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 015 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...957 MB...28.26 INCHES
 
RECENT REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT
INDICATE HURRICANE SANDY HAS RAPIDLY STRENGTHENED...AND MAXIMUM
SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NOW ESTIMATED TO BE 110 MPH...175 KM/H. THIS
MAKE SANDY A STRONG CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
HURRICANE WIND SCALE. SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE...
AND SANDY COULD BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE BEFORE MAKING LANDFALL
ALONG THE SOUTHEASTERN COAST OF CUBA LATER THIS MORNING.

$$
FORECASTER STEWART