...Katrina regains hurricane status over the Gulf of Mexico...
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for all of the Florida Keys and Florida Bay from Dry Tortugas northward... along the East Coast of Florida from Florida City northward to Deerfield Beach... and along the Gulf Coast of Florida from south of Florida City westward and northward to Longboat Key. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for portions of the Florida West Coast from north of Longboat Key to Anclote Key. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area... generally within 36 hours.
For storm information specific to your area...including possible inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued by your local weather office.
At 5 am EDT...0900z...the center of Hurricane Katrina was located near latitude 25.3 north... longitude 81.5 west or about 50 miles... 85 km... north-northeast of Key West Florida.
Katrina is moving toward the west near 5 mph... 7 km/hr... and this motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours... with a slight increase in forward speed.
Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph... 120 km/hr... with higher gusts. Katrina is a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Some strengthening is forecast 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 85 miles... 140 km.
Estimated minimum central pressure is 987 mb...29.15 inches.
Storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels... can be expected along the West Coast of Florida in areas of onshore flow south of Venice... and in Florida Bay. Storm surge should continue to decrease this morning along the East Coast of Florida.
Katrina is expected to produce additional rainfall of 5 to 8 inches over extreme southern Florida and the Florida Keys. Isolated storm total amounts of 15 to 20 inches are possible.
Isolated tornadoes are possible today over southern Florida and the Florida Keys.
Repeating the 5 am EDT position...25.3 N... 81.5 W. Movement toward...west near 5 mph. Maximum sustained winds... 75 mph. Minimum central pressure... 987 mb.
Intermediate advisories will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 7 am EDT and 9 am EDT followed by the next complete advisory at 11 am EDT.
Forecaster Knabb
Please check in with us when you can, FL Keys FRiends.