...Dangerous Hurricane Emily continues toward the central and western Caribbean Sea...
a Hurricane Warning is in effect for all of Jamaica.
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A Hurricane Watch remains in effect for all of the Cayman Islands.
A Tropical Storm Warning is 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.
At 8 am AST...1200 UTC...the Tropical Storm Warning for Venezuela and for Bonaire...Curacao...and Aruba has been discontinued.
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 8 am AST...1200z...the center of Hurricane Emily was located near latitude 14.1 north... longitude 70.0 west or about 345 miles... 555 km... south-southeast of Port au Prince Haiti and about 525 miles... 845 km...east-southeast of Kingston Jamaica.
Emily is moving toward the west-northwest near 20 mph...32 km/hr... and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 135 mph...215 km/hr...with higher gusts. This makes Emily a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. However...satellite images suggest that Emily may have weakened a little during the past few hours. A reconnaissance plane will check the intensity shortly.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 40 miles... 65 km... from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles...220 km.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 952 mb...28.11 inches.
Emily may produce total rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches across portions of the Netherlands Antilles...and 3 to 6 inches are possible over portions of Hispaniola. Emily is also expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches over Jamaica... with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches possible. These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.
Repeating the 8 am AST position...14.1 N... 70.0 W. Movement toward...west-northwest near 20 mph. Maximum sustained winds...135 mph. Minimum central pressure... 952 mb.
The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 11 am AST.
Forecaster Avila
Looks like she's heading due west the past few frames.
Whew, down to 952. It doesn't seem like the wind speeds are reflecting the drop in pressure. We'll have to wait until 11 to see.