...Major Hurricane Emily gains more strength...
At 11 PM AST...0300z...the government of the Cayman Islands has issued a Hurricane Watch for all of the Cayman Islands.
A Hurricane Watch is now in effect for Jamaica and for all of the Cayman Islands.
At 11 PM AST...the government of Venezuela has discontinued the Tropical Storm Warning east of Caracas. A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the northern coast of Venezuela from Caracas westward to punto fijo...including the offshore islands north of the coast and west of Caracas.
A Tropical Storm Warning is also in effect for portions of the southern coast of the Dominican Republic from Punta Salinas westward to the Dominican Republic/Haiti border...and for the entire southwestern peninsula of Haiti from the Dominican Republic/Haiti border to Port-au-Prince.
A Tropical Storm Warning is also in effect for Bonaire... Curacao... and Aruba.
Interests elsewhere in the central and western Caribbean should monitor the progress of Emily.
For storm information specific to your area...including possible inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued by your local weather office.
At 11 PM AST...0300z...the center of Hurricane Emily was located near latitude 13.6 north... longitude 67.5 west or about 375 miles... 600 km... south-southeast of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and about 690 miles...1110 km...east-southeast of Kingston Jamaica.
Emily is moving toward the west-northwest near 20 mph ...32 km/hr...and this motion is expected to continue during the next 24 hours.
Data from a United States Air Force reconnaissance aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased and are now near 125 mph...205 km/hr...with higher gusts. Emily is a category three hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Some additional strengthening is possible...and Emily could become a category four hurricane during the next 24 hours.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles... 35 km... from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 125 miles...205 km.
Reports from the reconnaissance aircraft indicate that the minimum central pressure in Emily has been falling during the past few hours. Based on these reports...the estimated minimum central pressure is 957 mb...28.26 inches.
Emily is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches across portions of the Netherlands Antilles. Rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches are expected over portions of Hispaniola...with isolated 8 inch amounts possible. These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.
Repeating the 11 PM AST position...13.6 N... 67.5 W. Movement toward...west-northwest near 20 mph. Maximum sustained winds...125 mph. Minimum central pressure... 957 mb.
An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 2 am AST followed by the next complete advisory at 5 am AST.
Forecaster Knabb
Eye diameter is only 8nm...If it gets any smaller, they should just call it a waterspout...