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Tropical Storm Isaac Continues Moving Westward to the South of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, Aug. 23, 2012, UPDATE 11 AM AST


FLORIDA—(ENEWSPF)—August 23, 2012, Update 11 AM AST.  Tropical Storm Isaac continues moving westward to the south of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Summary Information

Location

15.6n 65.4w about 200 mile (320 km) SSE of San Juan Puerto Rico about 360 miles (575 km) ESE of Santo Domingo Dominican Republic.  Maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h).

Present Movement

West or 275 degrees at 15 mph (24 km/h).  Minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches).

Summary of Watches and Warnings in Effect

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:

  • South coast of Dominican Republic from Isla Saona westward to the Haiti-Dominican Republic southern border, and
  • Haiti

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

  • British Virgin Islands,  
  • Puerto Rico,
  • Vieques,
  • Culebra, and the U.S. Virgin Islands,  and
  • North coast of Dominican Republic from the Haiti-Dominican Republic northern border eastward to north of Isla Saona

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:

  • Southeastern Bahamas including the Acklins,
  • Crooked Island,
  • Long Cay,
  • the Inaguas,
  • Mayaguana,  
  • the Ragged Islands, and
  • the Turks and Caicos islands

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.  Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

Interests in Cuba, Jamaica and elsewhere in the Bahamas should monitor the progress of Isaac.

For storm information specific to your area in the United States, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service Forecast office.  For storm information specific to your area outside the United States, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.

Discussion and 48-hour Outlook

At 1100 am AST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Isaac was located near latitude 15.6 north, longitude 65.4 west. Isaac is moving toward the west near 15 mph (24 km/h).  A turn toward the west-northwest is expected this afternoon, and a west-northwestward motion is expected to continue through Saturday.  On the forecast track, the center of Isaac should pass south of Puerto Rico today and be near the south coast of the Dominican Republic and Haiti on Friday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts.  Strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Isaac could become a hurricane as it nears the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Tropical Storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km) from the center.  NOAA Buoy 42060 recently reported 1-minute mean winds of 40 mph (65 km/hr) and a wind gust of 47 mph (76 km/hr).

Estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches).

Hazards Affecting Land

Wind.  Tropical Storm conditions are subsiding over the Leeward Islands.  Tropical Storm conditions are expected over portions of Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands today.  Hurricane conditions are expected over portions of the Dominican Republic by Friday and over portions of Haiti Friday or Friday night.  Tropical Storm conditions are possible over the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos islands by late Friday.

Rainfall. Total rainfall accumulations of 8 to 12 inches, with maximum amounts of 20 inches…are possible over Hispaniola. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.  Total rain accumulations of 2 to 4 inches with maximum amounts of 10 inches over higher terrain are possible over Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.  Total rain accumulations of 4 to 8 inches are possible over the northern Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands.

Storm Surge. A storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore winds along the coast of Hispaniola.  A storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels in the northern Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.  Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by dangerous waves.

Surf. Dangerous surf and rip current conditions will affect the Windward Islands, Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico during the next couple of days.  Please consult products from your local weather office for more information.

Source: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov


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