...Dangerous Hurricane Emily beginning to pass south of Jamaica ...
a Hurricane Warning remains in effect for Jamaica and for all of the Cayman Islands.
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 will likely be required for portions of the eastern Yucatan Peninsula later today.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the entire southwestern peninsula of Haiti from the Dominican Republic/Haiti border to Port-au-Prince.
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 EDT...1200z...the center of Hurricane Emily was located near latitude 15.9 north... longitude 76.5 west or about 140 miles... 230 km... south-southeast of Kingston Jamaica and about 395 miles... 635 km...southeast of Grand Cayman.
Emily is moving toward the west-northwest near 18 mph...30 km/hr... and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours.
Maximum sustained winds are near 140 mph...220 km/hr...with higher gusts. This makes Emily is a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. Some fluctuations in strength are possible during the next 24 hours.
Hurricane force winds now extend outward up to 70 miles...110 km... from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 150 miles...240 km. For Jamaica...hurricane force winds may occur in gusts later today along the coasts...with possible sustained hurricane force winds at higher elevations...especially above 3000 feet.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 947 mb...27.96 inches.
Emily may produce rainfall accumulations of 5 to 8 inches over Jamaica with maximum amounts of 15 inches over mountainous terrain. Rainfall totals of 5 to 8 inches is possible over the Cayman Islands with lesser amounts of 3 to 6 inches over portions of Hispaniola and eastern Cuba. These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.
Repeating the 8 am EDT position...15.9 N... 76.5 W. Movement toward...west-northwest near 18 mph. Maximum sustained winds...140 mph. Minimum central pressure... 947 mb.
The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 11 am EDT.
Forecaster Beven
Good morning! Does anyone sleep on this thread?
I just order the book about the 1900 Galvaston storm, Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson. I think it will be good reading for next week as Emily enters the GOM.